Hilltopper Haven - Hilltopper Flashbacks

Throughout the offseason HH will be running past stories about memorable moments in Hilltopper history. This week's installment is the Toppers' January,1986 victory over hated Sun Belt rival and then 18th-ranked Alabama-Birmingham. The victory was Western's second in nine days over the Blazers and was instrumental in helping the Toppers returnto the AP Top 20 a little over a week later, as they came in at #19 in the nation. However, more than anything this game is remembered for the infamous "Mars Bars incident," in which some candy bars that had been given out as part of a free promtion were hurled onto the court towards the UAB bench after Topper center Clarence Martin was whistled for his fifth foul on a monster rebound dunk in the second half. The SRO crowd of 13,300 exploded in awe and then disbelief as the foul was called on C. When a few candy bars landed near the UAB bench a Blazer player responded by hurling one back into the crowd. The game was momentarily stopped as Coach Clem Haskins took the microphone and asked for restraint to be shown from the few unruly fans.

Western's Reserves Unnerve UAB 81-75
By Tony Moton
Courier-Journal

RealVideo Clips:
Clarence's Rebound Dunk that Ignited the Crowd (2mb)
The Mars Bars Fly in Diddle Arena (2.7mb)

Jan 26, 1986

Reserves Tellis Frank and Ray Swogger were unexpected guests during a party held last night at Diddle Arena.

Frank, a 6-foot-10 junior forward, and Swogger, a 6-3 transfer out of Erie (N.Y.) Community College, came dressed to kill while helping Western execute Alabama-Birmingham in heart-stopping style, 81-75.

Frank scored 17 points and pulled down a career-high 12 rebounds. Swogger, meanwhile, added 12 points and eight rebounds as Western swept the two-game regular season series.

"Swogger is a money player," said Western Kentucky coach Clem Haskins. "He's one of the finest clutch players in the nation. You ask me how he plays in the land of the giants? He just raises his game."

About Frank, Haskins said: "He's 6-10 and he played 7-10 tonight."

Their performances supported the 20-point effort of senior guard Billy Gordon and offset a game-high showing by UAB's sensational Steve Mitchell, who had 27.

The Hilltoppers beat the host Blazers 75-72 in overtime on Jan. 16, with Gordon hitting a jumper with five seconds left in OT to secure the win.

UAB coach Gene Bartow had criticized his then 12th-ranked team following the earlier loss to Western, claiming his squad couldn't win the Sun Belt Conference title because "We can't win against a team we're favored to beat by a pretty big margin."

He also called the defeat "one of the most sickening losses I've ever been associated with."

He was unavailable for comment after last night's contest which probably fit in the sickening category as well. The Hilltoppers turned away several late UAB comebacks and raised their season record to 15-3 and 4-1 in the conference.

The 18th-ranked Blazers fell to 18-5 and 6-2.

Jerome Mincy, who had 21 points for the Blazers, led his team from a 61-54 deficit with about eight minutes left. The senior power forward socred six points during a furious rally that saw UAB gain ties at 67, 69 and 71.

Western took the lead for good - 73-71 - on Gordon's 20-footer at 1:14. Frank added four free throws down the stretch to silence the Blazers.

"It was a great basketball game and we were fortunate to beat a top 20 team," Haskins said. "I'm thrilled with the performance, and the crowd was the sixth man tonight."

Several fans in the standing-room only crowd of 13,300, had let the game's excitement level reach dangerous proportions in the second half when they flung candy bars toward the UAB bench and Bartow, who attempted to pull his players off the floor with 12:39 remaining.

The spectators apparently were protesting a fifth foul called on Western center Clarence Martin, who had just nailed his second rebound dunk of the game. Play was stopped momentarily as Haskins took the announcers microphone and asked fans to refrain from such gestures.

The attendance was Diddle's largest since the arena capacity was reduced to 12,370 in 1980. "We've got 'em sitting everywhere," said Paul Just, Western's sports information director.

The Hilltoppers' reserves played a big part in establishing Western's 44-36 halftime lead. Frank and Swogger combined for 26 minutes, 10 points and 10 rebounds. Their biggest contribution came on the offensive glass, where each grabbed two rebounds apiece.

Swogger canned a short bank shot off a miss, giving the Hilltoppers a 34-31 lead at 3:28. From that point, Western outscored UAB 10-5 for the halftime margin.

Gordon continued his devilment against the Blazers early in the first half, but Mitchell too, was at his demon best.

By hitting five of his first six shots on an array of long-range and driving jumpers, Gordon staked Western to a 24-20 lead midway through the period.

Mitchell, however, was more than up to the task of answering Gordon. His 17 first-half points included a feather-soft baseline jumper that dropped after bouncing on the rim four times. He was fouled on the play by James McNary, but missed the free throw.

Mitchell later sank a reverse layup on a fast break, spinning the ball high off the glass while gliding from left to right. That basket pulled the Blazers within three points, 32-29, at 4:26. Seconds later, he hit a 15-footer to bring his team within one.

After going ahead 14-8 in the first seven minutes, Western surrendered six straight points - four following turnovers - for a 14-14 tie. UAB then slipped behind 35-25 at 6:25 but recovered with two more turnovers - and six consecutive points to make it 32-31 before Western mounted its late scoring run.

Previous Game Articles
WKU vs. Auburn (1985 Wendy's Classic)
WKU vs.Florida St. (1993 NCAA Tournament)
WKU vs. Seton Hall (1993 NCAA Tournament)