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Western Kentucky wins Sun Belt Conference, NCAA tourney seed

By Jesse Andrews, Newser User

Posted Mar 12, 2008 4:45 AM CDT

(Newser) – Western Kentucky made it six straight Sun Belt Conference championships yesterday, taking control in the second half to flummox Middle Tennessee, 67-57. Hilltoppers forward Jeremy Evans shot 8-of-9 for 20 points and pulled down 14 rebounds in the win, enough to clinch the conference MVP trophy. His double-double was the first by a Hilltopper all season.

The Hilltoppers started the second half with an 8-1 run and finished the game by hitting 12 straight free throws. The Blue Raiders led by as many as 7 in the first stanza, but a buzzer-beating three-pointer gave Western Kentucky a 34-31 halftime advantage. The title gives them an automatic bid in the NCAA tournament.

Western Kentucky players celebrate with the SUN Belt trophy after they defeated Middle Tennessee 67-57 in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament men's basketball championship game Tuesday, March 11, 2008... (Associated Press)

Western Kentucky's Jeremy Evans (40) tries to knock the ball away from Middle Tenessee's Desmond Yates (31) during the second half of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament men's basketball championship game... (Associated Press)

Western Kentucky head coach Darrin Horn cuts down the net after the his team defeated Middle Tennessee 67-57 in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament men's basketball championship game Tuesday, March 11,... (Associated Press)

Western Kentucky's Ty Rogers celebrates a Middle Tennessee turnover in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament championship game Tuesday, Mar. 11, 2008 in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Press-Register, G.M. Andrews) (Associated Press)

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Hilltoppers Punch Dance Ticket

Western Kentucky wins Sun Belt Conference, NCAA tourney seed

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College B-Ball Legend Dies in Bus Crash

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The 11th-seeded team upsets No. 1 seed Kansas 71-61

96 Teams Is 31 Too Many ...or Not Enough

Or maybe the men's NCAA tournament field should include all 347 teams

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Hilltoppers Punch Dance Ticket

Western Kentucky wins Sun Belt Conference, NCAA tourney seed

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

NCAA • NCAA basketball • Western Kentucky Hilltoppers • Sun Belt Conference • Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders • Jeremy Evans

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

UCLA Shows Western Kentucky No Love

Bruins wake up in time creep closer to third straight Final Four

WKU Buzzer Beats Drake in OT

Rogers hits 3-pointer at buzzer to finish upset

College B-Ball Legend Dies in Bus Crash

Lorenzo Charles remembered for stunning 1983 victory

VCU Stuns Kansas, Heads to Final Four

The 11th-seeded team upsets No. 1 seed Kansas 71-61

96 Teams Is 31 Too Many ...or Not Enough

Or maybe the men's NCAA tournament field should include all 347 teams

About Us

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Newser By Users

Community

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What is Newser?