Hilltoppers drop fourth straight to MTSU 68-66

WKU senior guard T.J. Price dribbles to the lane against Conference USA opponent Rice Feb. 7, 2015 at E.A. Diddle Arena. The Hilltoppers would go on to lose to the Owls 72-68 in only their third home loss of the season. (Luke Franke/Herald)

Billy Rutledge

WKU’s 68-66 defeat to Middle Tennessee State University this weekend marked their fourth consecutive loss.

The game was dictated by impeccable shooting by the Blue Raiders and WKU’s two senior stars: Price and George Fant.

Price led all players with 24 points while Fant was much more involved in the offense- scoring 19 points and grabbing 12 rebounds for his 11th double-double of the season.

The Blue Raiders, who have won eight of the last nine games against the Hilltoppers, shot 68.2 percent (15-22) from the field in the first half but only led by three.

WKU hung around to force an interesting final minute. WKU missed two three pointers with under :10 seconds left to lose 68-66 and fall to 16-10, 9-5 C-USA.

“We’re starting to play better, we just have to get over the hump. Almost is not good enough,” Harper said on the Hilltopper IMG Sports Network after the loss Sunday. “We came out, early in the game I thought defensively, once again, we were locked in, did a great job and we kind of relaxed.”

“The biggest thing is we had some opportunities right there, a couple key plays, and we didn’t make them happen.”

The loss leaves WKU tied for fourth in the Conference USA standings and was the final stretch of a three game road swing.

The Hilltoppers next two games will be at E.A. Diddle Arena against Florida Atlantic on Thursday, Feb. 26 and versus Florida International on Saturday, Feb. 28.

“We got two at home this week, need to go back, continue to get better and see what happens.”