BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Costly turnovers and poor outside shooting worked against WKU Hilltopper Basketball in a 66-62 loss to Middle Tennessee on Saturday night at an over-capacity E.A. Diddle Arena.
The Hilltoppers (14-6 overall, 6-1 Conference USA) shot 52.6 percent in the second half and made 25 of 31 free throws, but Middle Tennessee (14-5, 6-1) got 44 combined points from seniors Nick King and Giddy Potts to claim the road win.
That snapped WKU's seven-game winning streak and spoiled the atmosphere of a Diddle crowd of 7,759 – the second-largest since the arena's renovation in 2002, behind only 8,118 against Middle Tennessee in the 2003 Sun Belt Conference Tournament.
The Hilltoppers remain tied for the lead in the C-USA standings.
The Blue Raiders used a 12-2 run late in the first half to open a 29-22 advantage at the break, and although WKU cut into the lead early in the second half, MTSU still led 55-48 with 5:25 left.
The Hilltoppers were within 60-58 with 1:16 remaining on a putback by senior forward Justin Johnson, but Middle Tennessee got a putback dunk and then put the game away at the free-throw line.
Senior forward Dwight Coleby led WKU with 19 points, and Johnson finished with 15 points and nine rebounds. Freshman guard Taveion Hollingsworth finished with 12 points.
WKU shot 43.9 percent from the field but went just 1 of 9 from the 3-point line and netted just 18 field goals in the game.
King paced Middle Tennessee with 28 points and nine rebounds on 11-of-21 shooting.
WKU continues its homestand against Marshall at 6 p.m. CT Jan. 27 at E.A. Diddle Arena.
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