Hollingsworth's 43 Points Power Huge Comeback in 95-91 OT Win Over LA Tech

Thursday, February 27

E.A. Diddle Arena

7 p.m.

Western Kentucky University

-199,124 CUSA

Louisiana Tech

-208,115 CUSA

OT 1

Louisiana Tech

Western Ky.

Hollingsworth's 43 Points Power Huge Comeback in 95-91 OT Win Over LA Tech

2/27/2020 11:50:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Of all the improbable, memorable moments in WKU Hilltopper Basketball's season, Thursday's events topped them all.

Trailing 15 with 3:23 to play and still by 12 with 2:02 left, WKU junior guard Taveion Hollingsworth put his team on his back with one of the best individual performances in E.A. Diddle Arena history.

Hollingsworth poured in a career-high 43 points, helping the Hilltoppers rally for a 95-91 overtime win on Senior Night in the home finale.

"We were playing our hearts out," Hollingsworth said. "We were just showing our hearts, and it got us the win."

The Hilltoppers (19-9 overall, 12-4 Conference USA) trailed 69-54 with 3:23 to play.

But after the final media timeout, Hollingsworth exploded for 17 points in the last minutes of regulation.

That included a game-tying 3-pointer with two seconds left to send the game to extra time tied at 80-all.

Hollingsworth's 43 points were the most by a Hilltopper since program legend Jim McDaniels scored 49 at Tennessee Tech on Jan. 4, 1971. They were also the ninth-most ever by a C-USA player.

To get there, he made 11 of 18 shots overall, 4 of 7 3-pointers and 17 of 19 free throws.

The victory gives WKU sole possession of second place in the league and keeps the Tops one game behind first-place North Texas with two to go.

"These guys never quit and never faded," WKU head coach Rick Stansbury said. "… This team has never showed any quit. That doesn't mean that you play perfect. I don't know if I've ever had a team that's been down and out as many times and found a way to claw back."

WKU never led until overtime and trailed by as much as 17 with 5:51 to play.
The Hilltoppers kept chipping away and chipping away, and a putback by Hollingsworth with 53 seconds left cut their deficit to five at 74-69.

Two free throws by junior guard Josh Anderson got WKU within 79-77 with 14 seconds remaining.

Louisiana Tech's Derric Jean hit one free throw with 10 seconds left, but Hollingsworth pulled up from the top of the arc and swished his fourth 3 to force overtime.

"I just don't think there's any desperation in this team," WKU graduate senior guard Camron Justice said. "We don't ever feel like we're out of it. There might be a lot of people who do think we're out of it, but there's not one person sitting there on that bench that doesn't think we're going into every game and coming out victorious."

WKU took its first lead in overtime on a free throw by redshirt junior forward Carson Williams.

Louisiana Tech (20-8, 11-5) went back up by two after that, but Anderson got a steal and a dunk to tie it, and the Hilltoppers never trailed again.

WKU made 32 of 36 free throws in the game – both season highs – including 11 of 14 in overtime.

Behind Hollingsworth's 43 points, Williams added 17 and seven rebounds.

Justice (14 points, 4 of 8 3-pointers) and redshirt senior guard/forward Jared Savage (eight points, nine rebounds) also gave key contributions on their Senior Night. They were honored along with senior forward Matt Horton.
"This one's up there, No. 1," Savage said. "Not just because it was Senior Night, not just because he scored 40-plus, but because we're still fighting for a championship."

Jean led Louisiana Tech with 16 points. The Bulldogs outscored WKU 52-28 in the paint and outrebounded the Tops 46-35.

WKU now heads to Denton, Texas, for a trip to North Texas at 1 p.m. CT Sunday with a chance to pull into a tie for first place in the league with a win. The game will air on CBS Sports Network.