A 15-0 Western Kentucky run that spanned the end of the first and beginning of the second half provided momentum for the Hilltoppers, who held off FAU Thursday night. WKU (13-11, 5-6 CUSA) picked up the 76-69 Conference USA victory at E.A. Diddle Arena.
Western Kentucky started hot and built a quick 11-5 lead. But the Owls responded. Seven straight points off the bench for Johnell Davis erased the WKU lead and put FAU (15-10, 8-4 CUSA) on top 15-13. A Michael Forrest bucket extended the FAU run to 9-0 and the Owls led 17-13.
FAU led 20-15 with 11 minutes remaining in the first half. For the next six minutes, a grand total of four points were scored on one field goal for either team. The Owls had numerous opportunities to extend their lead, but committed four turnovers during that stretch.
When the led finally came off the baskets, Bryan Greenlee gave FAU a seven-point lead with a triple at the 4:45 mark. With three minutes left in the half, the Owls were on top 27-20. But FAU committed three more turnovers and missed a pair of 3-point attempts over the next three minutes. Meanwhile, WKU took advantage, scoring 10 points to go on top 30-27 at the intermission.
“I thought we were getting up and down in transition and didn’t capitalize by making the shots that we typically make,” FAU head coach Dusty May said of the first half. “Because of that, I thought it affected our defensive energy. We started both halves slow from a defensive standpoint and that can’t happen.”
The Hilltoppers extended the run to 15-0, scoring the first five points of the second half and taking a 35-27 edge. From there, it was a constant effort to battle back for the Owls. A Giancarlo Rosado bucket with 14:33 left in the game pulled FAU within five, 44-39. Five quick points from WKU put the Hilltoppers up by double digits for the first time, 49-39, with 13 minutes left.
Western Kentucky led by 10, 64-54 with five minutes remaining. A Forrest 3-pointer and a Vlad Goldin dunk quickly trimmed the deficit to five, 64-59. A Greenlee 3-pointer at the 2:24 mark got the Owls within four, 68-64. But they could get no closer. Western Kentucky was 8-of-8 from the free throw line over the final two minutes to keep the Owls at bay.
“We turned it over 16 times. If we’re going to be a championship-level basketball team, we can’t turn it over that much on the road,” May said. “Then, they out-rebounded us. That’s something that has to be our identity every single night. We just didn’t do a good enough job on the defensive glass.”
FAU was led by Forrest’s 20 points, which included 4-of-9 shooting from behind the 3-point arc. Forrest also dished out five assists. Martin and Greenlee were also in double digits with 12 and 10 points, respectively. Davis led the way on the glass with six boards. WKU was paced by Camron Justice, who scored 19.
