The WKU Hilltoppers pulled out their third win in a row in  a nailbiting 67-63 win over Denver Monday night in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Semifinals.

The seventh-seeded Hilltoppers will now meet fifth-seeded North Texas Tuesday night at 6 pm in the tournament championship game with the winner advancing to the NCAA Tournament. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN2. If the Toppers win it will be their 22nd NCAA Tournament appearance in school history.

The game was close throughout with 11 ties and 8 lead changes. The largest lead by either team in the second half was five points.  Denver’s last lead came at 61-60 with 2:36 remaining in the game but the Toppers regained the lead and were able to ice it with free throws down the stretch.

Freshman George Fant led the Toppers in scoring with 19 points while senior Khalil McDonald chipped in with 14 points.

“This was another great college basketball game. Denver is a tremendous basketball team and so well coached, but our kids stuck with what we wanted to do,” said Hilltopper head coach Ray Harper. “We felt like we needed to really get the ball inside. We only attempted eight three-pointers, we took good shots, and once again made plays down the stretch. But with two great basketball teams, I’m just happy we were able to win and advance.”