Hilltoppers Fall to Charlotte in Final Seconds, 72-70

Saturday, February 22

E.A. Diddle Arena

6 p.m.

Western Kentucky University

-189,114 CUSA

Charlotte

-1511,96 CUSA

Charlotte

Western Ky.

2/22/2020 9:37:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — WKU Hilltopper Basketball rallied in the second half Saturday night, but Charlotte made numerous clutch shots in the final minutes to pull out a 72-70 victory at E.A. Diddle Arena.

The 49ers' Jordan Shepherd hit a runner off the glass with two seconds remaining for the game-winner. It was the first conference home loss for WKU (18-9 overall, 11-4 Conference USA).

The Hilltoppers remain one game behind first-place North Texas in the league standings with three games to play. They had a chance to pull into a tie for first place after UNT fell at home to Louisiana Tech earlier in the day.

"Everything is the same for us as it was when we started the game," WKU head coach Rick Stansbury said. "We control our own destiny still. Nothing's changed. We could have tied it up, but we didn't take care of business."

Charlotte (15-11, 9-6) opened the game with a 6-0 run, led 33-27 at the break and didn't lose the lead until WKU pulled in front 61-60 with 4:07 remaining on a 3-pointer by junior guard Taveion Hollingsworth.

A free throw by redshirt junior forward Carson Williams made it a two-point lead for the Hilltoppers, but Charlotte quickly regained the lead.

WKU junior guard Josh Anderson tied the game again at 64-all with a dunk with 1:42 to play.

From there, Charlotte's Drew Edwards and WKU redshirt senior forward Jared Savage traded two 3-pointers each, the last by Savage tying it again with 16 seconds remaining.

The 49ers took a timeout, and Shepherd was able to find the basket high off the glass for the victory.

"They hit shots, but we watch film for a reason," Hollingsworth said. "We made a couple of mistakes that were pointed out to us. We saw it on film with them at the end of the game, both of those plays we went over multiple times. We have to see those things."

Shepherd finished with 13 points and 10 assists, while Milos Supica led Charlotte with 14 points and seven rebounds.

Williams paced WKU with 18 points, six rebounds and four assists. Hollingsworth added 16 points and five rebounds, and Anderson tallied 15 points.

Savage and graduate senior guard Camron Justice scored 11 and 10 points, respectively.

The Hilltoppers made 19 of 23 free throws in the game and shot 63.6 percent in the second half, but they shot just 32.1 percent before the break and missed all eight 3-point attempts.
"We just started out too low," Anderson said. "We got lucky in the past, coming back, but it's not going to happen every time. We just have to come out and do better in the beginning of the game."

WKU will play its final home game of the season against Louisiana Tech at 7 p.m. CT Thursday in E.A. Diddle Arena. Senior Night festivities will take place before the game, which will air on CBS Sports Network.