Mar 19
For the second straight year, Western Kentucky pulled off an upset in the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament. The Hilltoppers, a 12-seed, knocked off 5-seed Illinois 76-72. Despite the close final score, WKU led held a double-digit lead much of the game. WKU will play 4-seed Gonzaga Saturday, March 21st.
WKU’s Steffphon Pettigrew (30) is guarded by Illinois guard Calvin Brock.
AJ Slaughter goes up for a layup while 7-foot-1 Mike Tisdale tries to block him. Slaughter finished the game with 14 points.
(From left to right) Steffphon Pettigrew, DJ Magley and Sergio Kerusch head towards the locker room at the end of the first-half.
Orlando Mendez-Valdez drives towards the basket. Mendez-Valdez finished the game with 11 points and 6 assists.
Orlando Mendez-Valdez takes a 3-point shot. He was 3-for-6 beyond the arch.
AJ Slaughter goes up for a layup while Mike Davis watches.
AJ Slaughter shoots a jump shot as Dominique Keller unsuccessfully tries to block him.
WKU president Gary Ransdell cheers during a second-half time-out.
AJ Slaughter shoots a 3-pointer.
Illinois head coach Bruce Weber yells at one of his players after a turnover.
Anthony Sally signals the crowds to get loud after he forced an Illinois turnover.
WKU head coach Ken McDonald screams at a referee over a controversial call that went in favor of Illinois.
Steffphon Pettigrew prepares to shoot the second of two free-throws that sealed the victory for Western Kentucky.
Sergio Kerusch laughs as he responds to being asked if he was nervous in the closing minutes of the game during the post-game press conference.
