Post Game: Tops 51 – Texas State 50

Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

Is it still a win if it feels like a loss?

I have no clue how it happened, but the Tops escaped San Marco with a one point victory tonight. Dare I say, this game was worse than either the Georgia State or Arkansas State in nearly every way. Well, maybe not statistically, and certainly not on the scoreboard (because, well, obvious reasons), but tonight was a game that the Hilltoppers had absolutely no business winning. And somehow, of course, they come away doing so.

WKU lead in the second half for a grand total of…are you ready…four minutes and 18 seconds. After a string of clutch field goals from T.J. Price, Chris Harrison-Docks made a layup to put the Tops up 45-44, and they never looked back, eventually winning the game 51-50.

Again, aside from the score, everything else about this game was dreadful, really on both sides, but more specifically, the Tops side.

At one point shooting 29% from the floor, WKU finished the evening shooting 41.7%, still not great, but it could be worse. One surprising number is that the boys went 7-14 from the free throw line. While the 50% isn’t surprising (c’mon now, WKU is notoriously awful from the charity stripe), it was more the fact that the Tops were only able to get to the free throw line 14 times (especially when compared to the 29 times the Bobcats found themselves there). And it wasn’t because there wasn’t a presence down low, either. George Fant, especially in the latest stages of the game when the Tops were up, had a stellar game from the low block and post, and finished the night as the Toppers leading scorer with 14 points. They just, for whatever reason, couldn’t undiscipline the Bobcats. Which, all the credit to the world to Texas State, but not something that is seen often.

The Tops even had three guys finish in double figures tonight – Fant’s 14, T.J. had 11, and Trency Jackson had 10.

It was an unmotivated, unspirited, lazy, insert negative adjective here…win? We’ve seen WKU win close and bad ball games, but this is a new low. In a good way.

Alright, that’s it. I give up. I’m confusing myself.

Forget everything that I’ve written. All that matters is the Tops won, are still in contention for at least a share of the regular season Sun Belt title with Georgia State, and it’s onto the Mavericks on Saturday.

Stand up and cheers.