BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) -Steffphon Pettigrew scored 17 points to propel Western Kentucky to a 55-52 win over Mississippi State on Monday night, ending the Bulldogs' nine-game winning streak.
After trailing since early in the second half, Jarvis Varnado's dunk pulled the Bulldogs within 53-52 with 51 seconds left. But he missed a go-ahead jumper with 5 seconds left, Anthony Sally grabbed the rebound and sank two free throws to seal it for the Hilltoppers.
Sally finished with 11 points for the Hilltoppers (8-4), and was a perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line. Western Kentucky finished 12 of 16 from the stripe (75 percent).
The Bulldogs hit just 14 of 27 foul shots (51.9 percent).
Western Kentucky trailed by three at halftime, but opened the second on a decisive 13-4 run.
Varnado led the Bulldogs (12-3) with 17 points and Dee Bost added 13.
