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Western Kentucky knocks off No. 25 ODU

Jan 11, 2015 - 4:07 AM Bowling Green, KY (SportsNetwork.com) - George Fant picked up a game-best double-double of 24 points and 13 rebounds to lead Western Kentucky to a 72-65 win over No. 25 Old Dominion.

Chris Harrison-Docks totaled 19 points and T.J. Price added 15 points for the Hilltoppers (10-5, 3-0 C-USA), winners of five in a row despite shooting just under 39 percent from the floor.

"We're playing well," WKU head coach Ray Harper said. "I'm looking forward to the next 15 or so (games) we have left. I think it's going to be a fun ride with this group."

Trey Freeman poured in 20 points for the Monarchs (13-2, 2-1), whose 10-game win streak came to a halt. Jonathan Arledge added nine and six boards for the visitors.

Western Kentucky's lead ballooned to 53-41 after Price connected from long range with 8:38 left in the contest, but Old Dominion began to climb back within contention.

Richard Ross and Freeman contributed the next seven points for the Monarchs, who pulled to 53-48 just over a minute later. ODU came back with seven more and led by 12 with 4:58 on the clock after a Harrison-Docks trey.

Jordan Baker later converted from long distance, and Aaron Bacote's two from the line with 1:20 left made it a 63-59 contest. However, the Monarchs went into foul mode and Western Kentucky stalled the comeback effort thanks to hitting 9-of-10 from the charity stripe down the stretch.

"Our guys battled. I can't say we played great but our guys were out there trying," Old Dominion head coach Jeff Jones said. "This afternoon, WKU was the better team."

The visitors embarked on an early 9-2 spurt to take a 13-6 edge on an Arledge tip-in then Fant scored eight in a row and 10 overall in a counter-surge which ended on a D.J. Clayton bucket that put the hosts on top 27-25.

After a Freeman bucket, the Hilltoppers finished the half with nine of the next 11, and took a 36-29 edge to the break on a Fant slam.

Game Notes

Fant finished 9-of-14 from the floor and converted 6-of-8 free throws ... Western Kentucky made only eight of its 24 field-goal attempts in the second half ... The Hilltoppers scored 18 points off 12 ODU turnovers.