WKU rallies, but can't catch UCLA

Western Kentucky nearly had its Hollywood ending, but the team from Hollywood found a way to pull out an 88-78 win in the NCAA Tournament.

In the semifinals of the West Region against UCLA, Western overcame a miserable first half and a 21-point deficit to nearly pull off a stunning upset at U.S. Airways Center.

“We’re really proud of our guys to battle back the way they did,” WKU Coach Darrin Horn said. “This group has shown great character and toughness all year long.”

Tyrone Brazelton scored 12 straight as part of an 20-7 Hilltoppers run that got them within four points with 5:39 left in the game, but that was as close as they could get.

“We had nothing to lose,” Brazelton said afterward, after he scored 25 of his game-high 31 points in the second half. The Toppers succeeded in scaring the top-seeded Bruins, Coach Ben Howland said.

“Western Kentucky did a great job of speeding up the game in the second half,” he said. “Western Kentucky’s good. I’m really pleased we were able to finally get our composure there at the end.”

That composure included an 11-3 run of its own to pull back within 12 points.

Then the Bruins made 11 of 12 free throws in the final two minutes to keep their lead despite WKU’s best attempts.

It seemed improbable that the Hilltoppers (29-7) would be within four points at any point in the second half after they came undone in the first half. Western went without a point for nearly six minutes and without a field goal for eight minutes.

“Our defense, especially in the first half, was incredible,” Howland said.

A Brazelton three-pointer tied the game early at 13-13 before the Bruins started a 28-7 tear that gave them a 41-20 lead at halftime behind 15 first-half points from Kevin Love.

Love was one of three UCLA players to finish with a double-double with his 29 points and 14 rebounds. The Bruins (34-3) won their 13th straight and advanced to face Xavier, which survived a 79-75 overtime battle with West Virginia in the first semifinal.

When the two face off on Saturday, a trip to the Final Four is on the line. If the top-seeded Bruins make it, it will be their third consecutive trip.

James Keefe came off the bench and had what Howland called “the game of his life” with 18 points and 12 rebounds.

Russell Westbrook added 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Bruins, who outrebounded Western Kentucky 51-36.

WKU’s struggles in the first half included missing 11 straight shots (three at the rim). It kept the Tops from setting up their press that was so effective in helping them climb back in the second half.

But getting all of the way back was nearly impossible.

“We dug ourselves too big of a hole,” Horn said. “It took so much energy to get back into it.”

Western Kentucky’s 20 halftime points were its fewest in a first half this season. The Toppers made just 18.8 percent of their shots, with Lee making only 2 of his 13 shot attempts.

The combination of Lee and Brazelton, which had helped carry the Hilltoppers through their post-season run, went a combined 4-for-21 in the first half.

The game changed in the second half behind Lee and Brazelton, who brought Western back from the brink, but couldn’t quite get it over the hump.

“We took a deep breath and calmed down and started playing for each other,” said Lee, whose 18 points tied him with Jim McDaniels for WKU’s all-time men’s career scoring record with 2,238 points.