Tops Outlast Rhode Island 68-65 for Third Straight Win

Sunday, December 13

E.A. Diddle Arena

11 a.m.

Western Kentucky University

-52,00 CUSA

Rhode Island

3-4,0-0Atlantic 10

Rhode Island

Western Ky.

12/13/2020 3:25:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Rick Stansbury Press Conference Josh Anderson Press Conference Jordan Rawls Press Conference Photo Gallery

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — WKU Hilltopper Basketball's matchup with Rhode Island lived up to its billing Sunday, as the Hilltoppers pulled out a 68-65 win at E.A. Diddle Arena.

The Hilltoppers (5-2) led the game for 34 minutes, but Rhode Island stayed within striking distance nearly the entire way.

The Rams (3-4) pulled within one multiple times in the final four minutes. Each time, WKU had an answer and kept them at bay for their third straight home victory.

"We knew it was going to be a difficult game for a lot of reasons," WKU head coach Rick Stansbury said. "First off, Rhode Island, they're just a really good basketball team. Number two, it's 11 a.m. It's not like it's 11 a.m., Diddle Arena full of people and emotion, so I knew that was going to be a challenge. I thought the key to the game would be who could come out and impose their will on the other team. Who could come out and have the most energy. I thought our guys did that."

WKU turned in a stout defensive performance, holding Rhode Island to 42.1% shooting from the field – including 36.7% in the first half. The Rams, like WKU, make a living at the free-throw line, but they netted just 11 of 15 on Sunday to the Hilltoppers' 21 of 26.

"Coach always preaches to get to the free-throw line so we just wanted to be super aggressive to just get to the free throw line as much as possible," Rawls said.

Senior guard Josh Anderson paced WKU with 15 points and made both of his 3-point attempts.

Senior guard Taveion Hollingsworth tallied 14 points, seven rebounds, four steals and three assists, and junior center Charles Bassey was a menace inside again with 13 points, nine rebounds, five blocks and two assists.

Sophomore guard Jordan Rawls chipped in 11 points off the bench.

WKU opened the game with a 9-0 run, but Rhode Island rallied to lead by two at 24-22.

The Tops went on an 11-3 run over the final four minutes of the half to lead 33-27 at the break.

WKU used another 9-0 run early in the second half to push the lead to double digits until the Rams responded with an 11-2 burst.

That trimmed their deficit to just one at 52-51, but Rawls countered with an alley-oop dunk to Bassey.

That was one of many big-time responses from the Hilltoppers. With the lead down to one again, Anderson sank his second 3 with 3:34 remaining to make it 58-54.

After Rhode Island tied the game with 51 seconds to play, Bassey put WKU in front for good on a tip-in putback with 10 seconds remaining.

Hollingsworth made two free throws with four seconds left to make it 68-65, and Rhode Island's Fatts Russell missed the front end of a 1-and-1 after WKU opted to foul.

"It's been big, just how we can close out games," Anderson said. "Just the depth that we have, when the game has three minutes, two minutes left, whether the game is close or not, we've got players who can come in and make plays. Whether it's the starting five or not, so I feel like that's big for our team."

Russell had 14 points for the Rams, while D.J. Johnson added 16 off the bench.

The Hilltoppers next scheduled game is at home against Tennessee Tech at 6 p.m. CT Dec. 22. The program is looking to fill its last non-conference vacancy before then, however.

THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT FOR PUBLIC HEALTH – WHEN IT COMES TO TOBACCO, QUITTERS ALWAYS WIN