HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) - George Fant scored 19 points and Kahlil McDonald 14 to lead Western Kentucky to a 67-63 victory against Denver in a Sun Belt tournament semifinal on Monday night.
Derrick Gordon had seven points, six rebounds and a crucial block for the seventh-seeded Hilltoppers (14-18), who advanced to play No. 5 seed North Texas in the title game on Tuesday.
Western Kentucky led 65-63 when Brian Stafford missed a 3-point attempt for No. 3 seed Denver (22-9), and Royce O'Neale rebounded and tried a put-back attempt with three seconds remaining. Gordon swatted the shot, and McDonald got the rebound and made two game-sealing free throws.
The Hilltoppers shot 55.9 percent (19 of 34) from the floor and made 24 free throws (in 34 attempts) to the Pioneers' 12 (16 attempts).
Denver dropped to 0-8 when allowing at least 65 points.
| Scoreboard | |||
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
| Western Kentucky (14-18) « | 34 | 33 | 67 |
| Denver (22-9) | 31 | 32 | 63 |
| WKY:G. Fant 19 Pts WKY:D. Gordon 6 Reb WKY:J. Crook 2 Ast |
DENVER:B. Stafford 19 Pts DENVER:R. O'Neale 9 Reb DENVER:R. Lewis 4 Ast |
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| PLAYERS OF THE GAME | |||||
| Western Kentucky | Denver | ||||
 George Fant |  Royce O'Neale | ||||
| Pts | Rebs | Ast | Pts | Rebs | Ast |
| 19 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 9 | 1 |
| Western Kentucky Hilltoppers | |||||||
| STARTERS | M | FG | FT | TR | A | PF | PTS |
| D. Gordon, G | 37 | 0-5 | 7-12 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
| J. Crook, G | 32 | 4-6 | 0-1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 |
| G. Fant, F | 31 | 6-8 | 7-9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 19 |
| T. Price, G | 30 | 2-4 | 0-0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| T. Akol, F-C | 11 | 0-2 | 3-4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| BENCH | M | FG | FT | TR | A | PF | PTS |
| V. Zollo, F | 25 | 2-3 | 2-2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| K. McDonald, G | 21 | 4-5 | 3-4 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 14 |
| O. Akamune, F | 13 | 1-1 | 2-2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| C. Dickerson, G | Did Not Play | ||||||
| K. Anyigbo, F | Did Not Play | ||||||
| S. Drane, F | Did Not Play | ||||||
| K. Kaspar, G | Did Not Play | ||||||
| N. Snipes, F | Did Not Play | ||||||
| S. Sheldon, G | Did Not Play | ||||||
| J. Starks, G | Did Not Play | ||||||
| Totals | 19-34 | 24-34 | 23 | 9 | 16 | 67 | |
| 55.9% | 70.6% | ||||||
| Complete Box Score | |||||||
| Denver Pioneers | |||||||
| STARTERS | M | FG | FT | TR | A | PF | PTS |
| B. Stafford, G | 38 | 7-15 | 2-2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 19 |
| B. Olson, G | 38 | 0-2 | 1-2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| R. O'Neale, F | 37 | 6-12 | 2-2 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 15 |
| C. Udofia, F | 35 | 5-11 | 2-3 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 12 |
| R. Lewis, F | 26 | 3-6 | 5-7 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 11 |
| BENCH | M | FG | FT | TR | A | PF | PTS |
| T. Hallam, G | 12 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| J. Coughlin, F | 9 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| B. Foeman, F | 5 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| C. Griffin, G | 1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| T. Thalken, G | Did Not Play | ||||||
| C. Hallam, F | Did Not Play | ||||||
| A. Pickert, G | Did Not Play | ||||||
| M. Byrd, F | Did Not Play | ||||||
| J. Logan, C | Did Not Play | ||||||
| C. Webb, G | Did Not Play | ||||||
| Totals | 23-51 | 12-16 | 21 | 10 | 22 | 63 | |
| 45.1% | 75.0% | ||||||
| Complete Box Score | |||||||
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