Hilltoppers Become Unlikely Sweet 16 Team

TAMPA, Fla.— Western Kentucky didn't need a buzzer-beater this time. Behind Courtney Lee's dazzling first-half performance and some clutch shooting down the stretch, the 12th-seeded Hilltoppers advanced to the round of 16 for the first time in 15 years with a 72–63 victory over no. 13 San Diego yesterday.

Now comes the toughest test.

Western Kentucky (29–6) will face top-seeded UCLA in the West Region semifinals in Phoenix. The Hilltoppers can only hope their three senior guards — Lee, Tyrone Brazelton, and Ty Rogers — will carry them through another round.

Lee finished with 29 points, including a huge 3-pointer that gave his team the lead for good with 6:17 remaining. Six straight free throws in the final 34 seconds that sealed the victory.

Brazelton added 15 points for the Hilltoppers. Rogers, who hit the 26-footer at the buzzer in overtime to beat Drake in the first round, had a much quieter afternoon. He had five points, three rebounds and two assists.

Gyno Pomare had 20 points and nine rebounds for the Toreros (22–14), who overcame a 15-point deficit in the second half before fading in the closing minutes.

Devin Ginty's 3-pointer capped an 18–2 run that turned a lopsided game into a nail-biter with about 6 minutes to play.

That may have been the scare the Hilltoppers needed. After all, they blew a 16-point lead against Drake before prevailing in the extra frame on Rogers' huge shot.

This time, Lee was the go-to guy. His 3-pointer came a few seconds after Ginty gave San Diego a 55–54 lead, the Toreros' first since going up 5–4 early.