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WKU's Postseason Run Comes to an End Against UK

The WKU Hilltoppers hoped to pull off the biggest NCAA tournament upset in history. Instead, the overall #1 seed showed why they earned that ranking. Kentucky beat WKU 81-66 Thursday night in a game that often wasn't even that close. Terrence Jones scored 22 points for the Wildcats, and three other UK players scored in double-digits.

TJ Price led WKU with 21 points. Freshmen George Fant and Derrick Gordon had 13 and 12 points respectively.

For the Hilltoppers, the loss to Kentucky brings to an end a magical postseason run that saw WKU win four games in four days to win the Sun Belt postseason tournament. Those victories allowed the Toppers to get an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, making them the only team in the field with a losing record.

In their first round game against Mississippi Valley State, WKU rallied from 16 down in the second half to win.

Despite the loss to UK, the Hilltoppers have reason to be optimistic about the future. The team returns most of its impact players next season, including Fant, Gordon, guard Jamal Crook, and center Teeng Akol.

Kevin is the News Director at WKU Public Radio. He has been with the station since 1999, and was previously the Assistant News Director, and also served as local host of Morning Edition.