Dec 8, 2001
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Despite needing a last second shot by Derek Robinson to edge Austin Peay, Western Kentucky coach Dennis Felton was pleased with the win.
"It was a good test for us because of the way they came back and made big shots and got the crowd behind them and played with inspiration," Felton said after Saturday's 77-75 victory. "We played with complete poise."
Nick Stapleton hit a 3-pointer to tie it at 75 for Austin Peay with 10.5 seconds left.
Western Kentucky (6-2) didn't call timeout and quickly pushed the ball downcourt. Freshman Patrick Sparks drove the lane and missed a shot off the back of the rim.
"I looked and saw that they were a bit disorganized getting back and that their defense was broken up, so I decided against taking a timeout," Felton said.
Robinson jumped for Sparks' miss and put it back at the buzzer before coming down, giving the Hilltoppers the win.
"It was a real good drive by Patrick Sparks," Robinson said. "Mike Wells went to the glass and tapped it back to me. He kept it alive. It came right to me and I flipped up a little floater shot."
Robinson led the Hilltoppers with 22 points and 12 rebounds, both career highs. The senior shot 8-of-11, including 4-of-5 from 3-point range.
The game was the Hilltoppers' third without star center Chris Marcus, who is sidelined with a left ankle fracture.
Western Kentucky got off to a fast start, hitting their first four 3-point shots, including one by Robinson that made it 14-6 with 15:50 left in the half.
The Hilltoppers stretched the lead to 10 with 9:50 left on two foul shots by Todor Pandov. By halftime, they led 38-26.
The Governors (3-6) rallied early in the second half, scoring the first six points, including a 3-pointer by Stapleton that cut the lead to 44-42 with 15:07 left.
Just over five minutes later, a basket by Bobbye Hill and two foul shots by Rhet Wierzba put the Governors up 52-50.
"We told the players at halftime if we give everything we've got for every second of every possession, what could we feel bad about?" Austin Peay coach Dave Loos said. "I thought we did that. That's all we could ask."
Sparks finished with 19 points for the Hilltoppers, going 3-of-5 from behind the arc. Junior guard Mike Wells had 10 points.
Stapleton led Austin Peay with 26 points, while Wierzba had 17 points and eight rebounds.
"It's almost devastating," Wierzba said. "It was another game we could have won. We just didn't make the plays we needed to win."
