Hot Springs, AR (Sports Network) - T.J. Price scored a game-high 24 points and
had the game-winning layup to lead the sixth-seed Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
into the Sun Belt Conference Tournament title game with a 58-56 win over the
second-seed Arkansas State Red Wolves in the semifinals at Summit Arena.
Brandon Harris added 11 points off the bench for Western Kentucky (19-15)
which will take on fourth-seed FIU in Monday's championship game.
Trey Finn and Brandon Peterson each scored 10 points with Peterson also
collecting 12 rebounds for Arkansas State (19-12).
At half the Hilltoppers had a slim 28-26 lead after shooting just 31.3 percent
from the field while the Red Wolves recorded just eight field goals on 12
fewer shot attempts.
After the break the Hilltoppers shot at a 40 percent clip and hit 13-of-15
shots from the free-throw line but found themselves trailing 56-55 with
under a minute to play. Price collected a steal with 19 seconds remaining and
went the other way to sink a a layup that proved to be the deciding blow.
Arkansas State was guilty of a game-high 18 turnovers. Western Kentucky
outscored the Red Wolves, 22-16, in the paint.
GAME NOTES:
The Sports Network