Final: WKU 80, Florida Gulf Coast 70

It wasn’t exactly the most glamorous Valentine’s Day for the Western Kentucky basketball team.
But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t fruitful.

The Hilltoppers got 20 points from Sergio Kerusch and a double-double from Juan Pattillo on Monday as they hung on to put away pesky Florida Gulf Coast, 80-70 at E.A. Diddle Arena.

“It’s a win,” WKU coach Ken McDonald. “We were saying the right things in the huddles, and it’s a great learning lesson. We were a couple plays away from being in a tough spot where you couldn’t rely on anything (else but yourself).

“We finished it, and we made some shots. But the other lesson is that when you have a lead, you need to understand your offense can mess it up just as bad (as your defense).”

The game was WKU’s first since the dismissal of senior forward Cliff Dixon on Sunday, leaving the group with nine available scholarship bodies on the bench.

The Hilltoppers say that won’t be a distraction or an excuse going forward, as the remaining nine players – plus injured walk-on Mike Gabbard – say they’re together for the long haul.

“We are what we’ve got,” said sophomore guard Caden Dickerson, who finished with a career-high 16 points. “We’re a family. When your number gets called, you go in and play as hard as you can.

“That’s the approach we’re taking.”

 

For full coverage, see Tuesday’s Daily News.

WKU 80, FGCU 70 – final

This one wasn’t easy for the Tops, but they hang on.

More later.

WKU 67, FGCU 56 – 7:45 left

The Hilltoppers have been up as many as 13 here in the second, but have really had a hard time shaking FGCU.

The game’s had literally no flow to it due to constant whistles hurting both sides.

WKU has really not done much defensively, and is getting out-rebounded 30-24.

Sergio Kerush and uan Pattillo now both have 12 points – Caden Dickerson has a career-high 16.

Jamal Crook once again ties a career-high with nine assists. He’s also got eight points and two rebounds against just one turnover.

WKU 58, FGCU 49 – 10:56 to go

This has been an odd game to say the least – lots of questionable calls on both sides here tonight.

Regardless, FGCU really hanging in there and continuing to anwer everything WKU throws at it.

Juan Pattillo now with 12 points and nine rebounds, Caden Dickerson still leads WKU with 13 points.

Sergio Kerusch just six points – as he’s been in foul trouble all night.

Steffphon Pettigrew is now 2 of 10 with just six points.

WKU 51, FGCU 44 – 15:41 second half

The Eagles haven’t really gone away at all here, as the Hilltoppers still lead by seven at the first media break of the second half.

Tops not really playing any type of effective defense tonight – and fouls have really been an issue.

Caden Dickerson leads the way with 13 points for the Tops, who are shooting 49 percent for the game.

WKU 40, FGCU 33 – halftime

In a foul-filled first half, WKU saw a 16-point lead cut all the way down to four before Kahlil McDonald dropped in a 3-pointer just before the buzzer to make it a seven-point Hilltopper lead at the break.

WKU racked up 14 team fouls in that half, three on Juan Pattillo, two each on Sergio Kerusch, Teeng Akol, Stephon Drane and Caden Dickerson.

Dickerson leads WKU with 10 points, while Anthony Banks has 16 to lead FGCU.

WKU 33, FGCU 23 – 3:58 first half

Anthony Banks has picked up the pace inside for FGCU – he’s got 12 points and the Eagles cut it to 10 here at the under four.

The Hilltoppers have picked up 11 fouls over the first 16 minutes – not good considering the depth issues.

WKU 29, FGCU 13 – 7:08 first half

Hillttoppers go on a 7-0 spurt to push the lead up to 16 as we near the final seven minutes of the first.

Juan Pattillo and Sergio Kerusch both have a pair of fouls.

Jamal Crook ran his assist without a turnover streak up to 14 over the past two games before coughing one up. He’s got five helpers tonight.

Kene Anyigbo put in some solid minutes on the defensive end a bit ago, pulling down a pair of rebounds and drawing a charge before getting a nice hand from the crowd.

FGCU shooting just 4 of 15 tonight.

WKU 20, FGCU 9 – 10:33 first half

The Hilltoppers are in the midst of a 14-5 run as Kahlil McDonald’s back-to-back triples give WKU its first double-digit lead of the night.

Teeng Akol already has a blocked shot, and has forced yet another travel inside with his length.

WKU shooting just 6 of 16 offensively, but have limited FGCU to 3 of 10 shooting and forced five turnovers.

Jamal Crook already has four assists tonight.

WKU 12, FGCU 6 – 14:59 first half

Sergio Kerusch already has two fouls and the Hilltoppers ever-shrinking bench will get an early test here tonight.

WKU starts out 4 of 10 from the field, and Juan Pattillo already has a missed one-handed dunk.

He came up a little gimpy, but appears to be fine now.