Hollingsworth, WKU Complete Improbable Rally to Defeat ODU, 71-69

Thursday, January 16

E.A. Diddle Arena

7 p.m.

Western Kentucky University

-116,41 CUSA

Old Dominion

-611,22 CUSA

Old Dominion

Western Ky.

Hollingsworth, WKU Complete Improbable Rally to Defeat ODU, 71-69

1/16/2020 11:04:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Rick Stansbury Press Conference Jared Savage/Taveion Hollingsworth Press Conference Game Highlights Photo Gallery

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Taveion Hollingsworth and the Hilltoppers kept believing, and that belief produced yet another memorable comeback.

Hollingsworth scored WKU's last nine points in the final 38 seconds of Thursday's matchup with Old Dominion, bringing the Hilltoppers back from an eight-point deficit with 1:20 remaining for a 71-69 win at E.A. Diddle Arena.

"We were the only ones who kept hope," Hollingsworth said. "We've been in that situation, coming from when we played Arkansas (a comeback win in overtime). I feel like nobody believed in us then and we finished it there, so why couldn't we finish it now?"

WKU (11-6 overall, 4-1 Conference USA) found itself down 64-52 with 3:28 to play, but outscored Old Dominion 19-5 the rest of the way in a rematch of last season's C-USA Tournament title game.

WKU still trailed 66-58 with 80 seconds left, but the Hilltoppers turned up the defensive pressure the rest of the way and held Old Dominion (6-11, 2-2) to just three points from that point forward.

The final 40 seconds belonged to Hollingsworth, who hit five free throws, a tough mid-range jumper, and the game-winning layup with three seconds to play.

"Games are 40-minute games," WKU head coach Rick Stansbury said. "For the most part, the game was probably over at 37 minutes in most people's minds. … At that point, we've got to find a way to score baskets with the clock stopped, and we were pretty efficient with that."

WKU trailed in the first half but went on a 17-4 run that helped it take a 31-28 advantage into the locker room.

Old Dominion went on a 10-0 spurt early in the second half, and the Monarchs racked up 48 points in the paint to control most of the frame.

Xavier Green, the MVP of ODU's C-USA title game win last year over WKU, made his first 3-pointer of the contest to push the Monarchs' lead to 64-52 with 3:28 to go.

Needing every stop they could get, the Hilltoppers opted for full-court pressure that caused Old Dominion fits.

In the last 1:20 alone, Hollingsworth drew an offensive foul and Old Dominion was called for two turnovers that gave WKU a chance.

That was all they needed.

"We went to a full-court man press, and they were throwing it to the spots that we wanted them to throw it to," WKU redshirt senior guard/forward Jared Savage said. "We would trap and rotate, and we got a few jump balls to go our way. We got a steal, a travel. They were playing into what we wanted them to do."

Hollingsworth finished with a game-high 23 points, netting 7 of 12 shots from the field and 8 of 8 free throws.

He was one of five Hilltoppers in double figures, along with junior guard Josh Anderson (13 points), redshirt junior forward Carson Williams (12), freshman guard Jordan Rawls (11) and Savage (10).

Savage and Williams pulled down 10 and eight rebounds, respectively, while Savage also blocked a career-high four shots.

Jason Wade had 22 points and 10 rebounds for ODU, which committed 15 turnovers that WKU turned into 25 points.

The Hilltoppers stay at home to host Charlotte, which is undefeated in league play, at 4 p.m. CT Saturday. The game will air on ESPN3 and locally in Bowling Green on WKU PBS.