This latest entry in the Hilltopper Flashback series involves the legendary first-ever meeting between WKU and the university of kentucky. After refusing to face the Hilltoppers for nearly four decades coach adolph rupp and his wildcats had nowhere to run on March 18, 1971 when the NCAA Tournament pairings finally provided the opportunity for the two state teams to face off once and for all on the court.

The Hilltoppers, led by first-team All-American Jim McDaniels, had overcome a 17-point second half deficit five days earlier in their opening round game versus 1970 national runner-up Jacksonville. Thus, the Hilltoppers (AP #7) and all its fans would finally have their long-awaited chance at the wildcats (AP #8).

The game was never really in doubt as the speed and quickness of the Hilltoppers completely overwhelmed rupp's squad and Western only trailed once in the game.....at 2-1. McDaniels, despite being plagued with first half foul trouble poured in 35 points and grabbed 11 rebounds while guard Jim Rose added 25 pts. and forward Clarence Glover chipped in with 18 pts. and 17 rbs. The victory would send the Hilltoppers into the regional finals versus Ohio State, the school that had knocked off two other excellent Western teams in 1960 and 1962 on their way to a national championship ('60) and national runner-up finish ('62).

By Bert Borrone
Daily News Sports Editor

Athens, Ga. - You know something?

Western never has lost to the University of Kentucky in basketball!!! And Western never has defeated Ohio State on the court!

In the historic first meeting ever in basketball between the state's two powers, Coach Johnny Oldham's Hilltoppers emerged a thunderclap 107-83 winner over UK in the semi-finals of the NCAA's Mideast Regional Tournament here last night.

Now it's Ohio State in the regional final Saturday night - and then perhaps on to Houston and the Astrodome for the championship series.

Virtually the only cheer U of K got off was before the game when ailing coach Adolph rupp, who has steadfastly sidestepped a regular season meeting with Western, hobbled onto the court. The temptation is to say that the Big Blue "blew!" But that would be taking deserved credit away from this brillliant Hilltopper team and its coaching staff, headed by Johnny Oldham.

The uk cheers started dying with but five minutes gones when Western, which trailed only once at 2-1, zoomed to a 14-7 lead. At halftime, it was an incredible 51-38. And shortly after the second half started, it became apparent that the only thing in doubt was whether the Hilltoppers would get 100.

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(FIRST HALF ACTION)

Well sir, they got their 100th and 101st points, fittingly enough on a pair of free throws by All-American Jim McDaniels. The seven-footer was the dominant figure in a game which has commanded headlines all over the nation for a week. McDaniels scored 35 points, sinking 12 of 21 from the field, and all eleven of his free throws. He thus outscored 7-2 uk sophomore center Tom Payne by a cool 35-15. And Mac outrebounded his taller adversary 11-10.

But Western had a lot more going for it than McDaniels.
-Item- Jim Rose, senior guard bombed 25 points, also canning 12 of 21 from the field.
-Item- Clarence Glover had to have the greatest game of his career, stuffing 18 points and pulling down a game high 17 rebounds.

The other two starters, Jerry Dunn and Rex Bailey, both stars under Western assistant coach Jim Richards when Glasgow won the state tournament three years ago, booked nine points apiece. In all, eight Hilltoppers contributed to the 107 point total against a UK team which itself had scored 100 or more points in seven of its last nine games. The Hilltopper defense therefore, had to be as outstanding as the attack.

Pacing uk with deadly shooting was Tom Parker with 23 points. That Parker hit 11 of 18 from the field, almost all of them from a 20-foot range. Payne finished with his 15 points and Mike Casey added 12 for the dazed cats.

It took McDaniels just 13 seconds to register his and the game's first point on a free throw. uk then got its lone lead of the entire night on Parker's corner basket. Glover tied the score with a single . And he put Western on top to stay at 4-2 with a basket from the corner. Payne was guarding Glover and rupp put Larry Steele on McDaniels. Steel did a great job of keeping McDaniels from even getting the ball for five minutes. Of course, Payne was dropping off Glover to help out.

McDaniels' first goal on a tap-in made it 14-7 Western after five minutes. uk rallied briefly behind Parker and Steele to come within 24-16 after nine minutes. Then, Dunn and Rose took off with McDaniels lending a big hand and it was 51-38 at intermission.

And man, was it ever quiet at intermission! The uk fans had given up and Western's backers were just too pooped to pop their gums very much. If uk were going to come back it obviously had to be really sharp in the final half. And the cats did get within 53-41 early in the last period.

Bailey and McDaniels put fastbreak baskets back to back then and school was out. The Hilltoppers, getting their fast-breaks going with McDaniels and Glover controlling the defensive boards, led by 68-47 with 13:34 to go. The biggest lead of the game thus far had come just a few moments earlier, when Rose's single made it a 24 point bulge at 71-47. Later it swelled to 22 points three times and finally to the game-ending 24 points.

The magnificently prepared Hilltoppers hit .506 percentage from the field, canning 42 of 83 attempts. uk made 33 of 74 for .446 accuracy. So, Western outscored the cats from the field by 18 points. The Toppers also had the edge at the foul line, sinking 23 of 30, compared with uk's 17 of 25.

And Western finished with a 50-45 margin in rebounds, which had to surprise the followers of the burly wildcats. The Hilltoppers had a whooping 24 assists with Glover getting off eight scoring passes alone. Dunn had four assists and Rose, Bailey and Danny Johnson contributed three apiece. Case, with four scoring passes led uk.

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(More First Half Action - Hilltopper Crowd)

Western's off and on pressing defense extracted an incredible 26 turnovers from the usually sure-handed wildcats. The Toppers were charged with 22 floor errors. At halftime, McDaniels and Rose each owned 12 points and Dunn had pegged eight. Parker, with 10 points and reserve Jim Andrews with eight led the losers in the first half.

rupp went with the 7-2 Payne and the 6-11 Andrews both in the game much of the last half but to no avail. The game ended with five Western reserves on the floor as Oldham appeared to be trying to avoid the century plateau, which very few teams have reached in rupp's career.

It was just the fourth time this season that Western has surpassed 100 points. And this mighty victory came just 10 days after a 96-94 loss at Austin Peay. The Wildcats had scored 100 or more points in nine of their last 11 games and were held to 83 in this one by a university which used to be known for its run-and-shoot basketball and to heck with defense.

The Toppers were the epitome of consistency, hitting 22 of 40 from the field in the first half and 21 of 43 in the last 20 minutes. uk connected on 16 of 36 the first half and 17 of 38 in the last half.

Western led 79-58 with nine minutes to go when Glover fell to the floor under the Hilltopper basket. He grabbed a rebound and snaked it in while being fouled. When he canned the single to complete the three-point play all rupp could do was hold his aching head and grimace.

After McDaniel's two singles made it 101-79, Western closed out the scoring on a jumper by Mac, Chuck Witt's rebound basket and finally on two more singles by McDaniels.

uk will pack a 22-5 record against Marquette in the regional consolation game here tomorrow at 1:00 pm CST.

Western will carry a 21-5 mark against Ohio State which surprised Marquette 60-59 in the other semi-final last night.

(Game Over. Final: WKU 107 - UK 83)

Previous Game Articles

WKU vs. Jacksonville (1971 NCAA Tournament)
WKU vs. Loyola (Ill.) (1966 NCAA Tournament)
WKU vs. Michigan (1966 NCAA Tournament)
WKU vs. Dayton (1967 NCAA Tournament)
WKU vs. Syracuse (1978 NCAA Tournament)
WKU vs. Georgetown (1982 Wendy's Classic)
WKU vs. Auburn (1985 Wendy's Classic)
WKU vs. UAB (1/25/86 - Mars Bars Game)
WKU vs. UNLV (1986 Preseason NIT)
WKU vs. Memphis State (1986 Preseason NIT)
WKU vs. Texas Christian (1986 Preseason NIT)
WKU vs. Notre Dame (1986 Preseason NIT)
WKU vs. West Virginia (1987 NCAA Tournament)
WKU vs.Florida St. (1993 NCAA Tournament)
WKU vs. Seton Hall (1993 NCAA Tournament)
WKU vs. Louisville (2/16/93 - W 78-77)