WKU Men’s Basketball used a late scoring run Saturday to pull away at Sam Houston State 75-66.
An 11-0 run late in the second half by the Hilltoppers helped WKU go up double digits against the Bearkats, who did not score for almost five minutes of game time during the Hilltopper run. WKU earned their first victory against SHSU and snapped a two-game losing streak.
Senior guard Don McHenry was the team’s leading scorer, putting up 20 points with zero turnovers. Guard Braxton Bayless added 16 points, five rebounds, and four assists.
The Hilltoppers shot 44.1% from the field and 29.6% from beyond the arc. They outrebounded the Bearkats 43-36 and dominated the bench points differential 41-9.
SHSU, who shot 38% from the field in the game, lost despite winning the turnover battle 15-10. They shot 7-24 from the three-point line and missed seven free throws in the game. The team’s leading scorer, guard Lamar Wilkerson, was held to 12 points on 4-9 shooting.
The Hilltoppers shot 36.8% from the field in the first half. They shot 5-17 from beyond the arc and committed six turnovers. Bayless led the team into the halftime locker room with 10 points on 4-6 shooting. McHenry and senior forward Tyrone Marshall Jr. combined for seven points on 2-15 shooting.
The Hilltoppers completely turned it around in the second half. They forced six SHSU turnovers and held their leading scorer for the game to 1-7 shooting. They shot 57.1% from the field and scored 39 points. Marshall Jr. and senior guard Enoch Kalambay scored seven points each, while McHenry scored 15 of his 20 points in the second half.
WKU made all 12 of their free throw attempts, which helped them pull away late from the Bearkats.
First Half
The Hilltoppers won the jump ball and opened with Kalambay going 1-2 from the free throw line. The Bearkats responded with a 5-0 run, making the score 5-1 with 19 minutes remaining in the first half. The Hilltoppers tied it 10-10 at the 14:32 mark. SHSU jumped to a 14-10 lead, but a 6-2 Hilltopper run tied the game 16-16 at the 11-minute mark.
Despite falling behind 26-20 with seven minutes until halftime, WKU used offensive rebounds to set up second-chance points to tie the game 34-34 with two minutes remaining. The teams remained scoreless until a Khristian Lander layup with three seconds remaining gave WKU the 36-34 lead at halftime.
Second Half
Half a minute into the second half, the Bearkats tied the game at 36 all with an alley-oop dunk. The teams exchanged draws at the 16:11 mark, tied 43-43, and the 13:52 mark, tied 46-46. The Bearkats jumped to a 53-50 lead with 10:35 remaining in the game.
Despite having free throw attempts, SHSU went on an almost five-minute scoring drought that accompanied an 11-0 WKU run, putting the Hilltoppers up 61-53 with six minutes remaining.
WKU led 63-59 with two minutes remaining. Six late points by McHenry put the game out of reach for the Hilltoppers. WKU converted free throws on intentional fouls by SHSU, finishing the game with the 75-66 win.
WKU will return to Diddle Arena to play the UTEP Miners on Thursday, Jan. 30.
Sports Reporter Michael Givner Jr. can be reached at [email protected].