This latest entry in the "Hilltopper Flashbacks" series is a recap of the March 14, 1971 NCAA Tournament contest between WKU and the Jacksonville Dolphins led by 7-2 All-American Artis Gilmore. The game would be the third matchup between the two teams in a little over a year.

In the 1970 NCAA Tournament, eventual national runner-up Jacksonville, eliminated Western 109-96 in a first round contest and less than three months prior to the '71 NCAA game the Hilltoppers got a measure of revenge in a December 23 rematch held at Freedom Hall in Louisville. Western, behind a huge game from All-American Jim McDaniels crushed the Dolphins 97-84. The third game would prove to be the most exciting and hard-fought game of the three and the victory would catapult the Hilltoppers into a second round matchup versus kentucky and on to the Final Four in Houston.

Tops Claw Past Dolphins By 74-72 Mark

Daily News
March 14 , 1971

South Bend , Ind. - The comeback of the century took place yesterday at something called the Notre Dame Athletic and Convocation Center, and it was none other than the Hilltoppers of Western who put on the show.

Western pulled off an unbelievable second-half rally, turning a 17 point deficit into a one-point lead in just minutes, and wound up winning a 74-72 squeaker on Clarence Glover's last-second basket.

The tremendous victory already has been termed the "greatest win in Western's history," Ironically, that "greatest win" also may turn out to be the most short-lived - a victory over uk and adolph rupp at Athens, Ga. Thursday night would have to be called even "greater" than yesterday's epic.

And don't think Johnny Oldham's charges haven't been thinking about that one all along. In fact, seven-foot All-American Jim McDaniels' first few words in a television interview only seconds after yesterday's game were, "Bring on the Wildcats!"

But back to yesterday's thriller over Jacksonville. Western started off with one of its poorest shooting displays of the year, spotting the Dolphins a 36-14 lead after the first 13 minutes.

(The Hilltoppers regain the lead late in the second half)

But the teams played on fairly even terms for the remainder of the half, and when McDaniels and Glover came to life in the second half it was all Western.

The two halves were actually two separate games, with Jacksonville winning the first stanza 44-30 and Western coming coming out on top in the second frame 44-28.

McDaniels sat out several minutes in the first half after picking up three personal fouls and again went to the bench in the second half after being charged with his fourth foul. However, he returned in time to spark the Toppers' closing surge.

Without a doubt, the 6-8 Glover played the greatest game of his career. The senior from Horse Cave tallied 16 points and hauled 18 rebounds nearly doubling his average in both categories.

Big Mac was tops in scoring for the Toppers with 23 points including several clutch tip-ins in the crucial waning moments. Jim Rose, despite a poor shooting day, added 13.

(Clarence Glover's game-winning layup)

Jacksonville's giant 7-2 All-American Artis Gilmore, was a lion on the boards with 24 rebounds but a lamb otherwise, hitting only three shots from the field and 6 of 10 free throws for a meager 12 points.

Harold Fox and Ernie Fleming led the Dolphins' attack with 19 points and 18 points respectively. Jacksonville's other seven-footer, Pembrook Burrows did not hit a shot from the field the entire game and sank only one of three free throws.