WKU Men’s Basketball could not get in a groove offensively, falling to the Jacksonville State Gamecocks 71-66 Thursday night at Diddle Arena.
Behind 29 team fouls, it was start and stop all night for the Hilltoppers. Of the 29, three were technicals and two were flagrant fouls. Senior guard Terrion Murdix, and freshman guard Armelo Boone were both assessed disqualifying fouls. Senior forward Grant Newell also fouled out.
Between the two teams, 74 free throws were shot, the most in a Hilltopper game all season. The Gamecocks took the bulk of the foul shots with 50. They were unable to capitalize on the foul line, shooting 72%, which kept the Hilltoppers in the game.
“I felt like they came in cute and tried to manipulate it to do whatever they could to win the foul game,” Head Coach Hank Plona said.
Jacksonville State was unable to capitalize from the foul line, shooting 72%, leaving the Hilltoppers room to capitalize.
The Hilltoppers took advantage of the poor free-throw shooting, keeping the game within five or less points.
Senior guard Ryan Myers did all he could for the Hilltoppers, finishing with a season-high 20 points. Along with Myers, three other Hilltoppers finished with double-digit points.
The Hilltoppers could not find the bottom of the net, shooting 30% from the floor. The struggle came early from the three point line for WKU, finishing the night shooting 23%. This is the second time in three games the Hilltoppers have shot 30% or less from the floor.
“We have got to execute better, and we have to stay composed,” Plona said.
WKU kept the game close with their free throw shooting, shooting 86% from the line. WKUs defense kept them in the half, forcing six turnovers. The Hilltoppers went into half down 33-28.
The offense came out on fire in the second half for WKU, shooting 43% from the floor. Senior guard LJ Hackman led the way in the half with 13 of the team’s 38 points. Despite this, the Hilltoppers were unable to mount the comeback.
With the loss, the Hilltoppers fall to 12-11, and 5-7 in conference play.
WKU will return to Diddle Arena Saturday afternoon to host FIU.
