Eli Randolph

Forward Tyrone Marshall (24) runs to the goal during the first half of WKU’s game against Sam Houston on Thursday, Feb. 1.

On a night set to mark their tenth straight home win of the 2023-2024 season, the Hilltoppers fell to the Sam Houston Bearkats for the second time this season, 79-77 .

After suffering a 78-74 loss to the Bearkats in Huntsville, Texas, the Hilltoppers opened the game up with an incredibly efficient offensive showcase. Through the first 15 minutes of gameplay, WKU expanded their lead to 12 while shooting over 50% from the field in its entirety, as well as from behind the arch.

However, the Bearkats’ Davon Barnes was not ready to let the Hilltoppers’ impressive opening take the wind out of his sails. The guard from Nashville, Tennessee opened his night up with 12 straight points.

The Music City native only had eight points in the team’s matchup earlier in the season.

Towards the end of the half, Sam Houston shifted their offensive focus to junior forward Cameron Huefner. Huefner finished his first half with 13 points, good enough for his season high.

For the Hilltoppers, a familiar tune played. Don McHenry, the man who leads WKU in points and assists did what he does best: score. The Milwaukee native opened up his game with 14 points, two rebounds, and an assist in his 15 minutes. 

Thanks to a 13-4 run to end the first half, the Bearkats only trailed the Hilltoppers by four going into the break, 42-38.

Team First Half Statistics: 

WKU: 15-32 FG, 7-16 3FG, 5-6 FT | 16 Rebounds: 12 Defensive, four Offensive.

SHSU: 15-32 FG, 6-14 3FG, 2-2 FT | 18 Rebounds: 13 Defensive, five Offensive.

After the break, the Bearkats caught fire. Thanks to a 9-2 run after a Don McHenry three, Sam Houston knotted the game up at 47. However, ‘The Fastest Team Alive’ stole the torch. 

Thanks to center Rodney Howard, the Hilltoppers retaliated with a 10-2 run of their own, stretching the WKU lead to eight. 

However, the lead wouldn’t last for long. With just under seven minutes left, the Bearkats’ Damon Nicholas Jr single-handedly brought it to one. 

The final five minutes of the match-up put the fans in Diddle Arena in the front row at Wimbledon. The Bearkats and Hilltoppers traded buckets back and forth, with Howard leading WKU.

With two and a half minutes left, a 5-0 run from the Bearkats gave the team a 75-74 lead, their first lead since the score was 13-12.

Lamar Wilkerson, the Bearkats’ leading scorer throughout the season, was awfully quiet throughout the night, but showed up when it mattered, scoring three consecutive layups to tie the game and extend the lead. His only six points of the game.

On what was seemingly the  final possession of the game, the Hilltoppers went to Don McHenry. After he wasn’t able to find a separation in the paint, he dished it off to Tyrone Marshall who lost the ball, sending it out of bounds, and handing the Bearkats their third straight conference win.

However, after Sam Houston’s Marcus Boykin missed the dagger free-throw, the Hilltoppers were given an opportunity to change the fate of the previous 40 minutes. Yet, Don McHenry rimmed out of the game-winning three. 

Sam Houston clinched the win after leading by less than four minutes all game.

Full Game Statistics:

WKU: 28-60 FG, 9-26 3FG, 12-17 FT | 33 Rebounds: 26 Defensive, seven Offensive.

SHSU: 31-65 FG, 10-25 3FG, 7-11 FT | 38 Rebounds: 28 Defensive, 10 Offensive.

WKU will look to bounce back on Saturday, Feb. 3rd against rival Middle Tennessee State.