CONWAY, S.C. (AP) - Freshman Charles Bassey had 13 points and a season-high 15 rebounds and Desean Murray's dunk with 63 seconds left gave Western Kentucky Hilltoppers the lead for good as the Hilltoppers beat West Virginia Mountaineers 63-57 on Friday night in the semifinals of the Myrtle Beach Invitational.
Western Kentucky (3-1), which has won three in a row after a season-opening loss at then-No. 25 Washington, will play UCF in the championship game Sunday.
There were five lead changes and five ties in the second half, the last of which was broken when Murray took a pass from Josh Anderson on the left block and threw down a two-handed dunk that made it 59-57. West Virginia went 0 for 2 from the field with a turnover in the final minute, while Jared Savage and Murray each made to foul shots to seal it.
Taveion Hollingsworth had 13 points, Anderson scored 12 and Savage 11 for WKU. Murray, who was called for two fouls early in each half, finished with five points, on 1-of-3 shooting, and four rebounds in 16 minutes.
Esa Ahmad led the Mountaineers (1-2) with 12 points and James Bolden scored 10.
The Hilltoppers outscored WVU 27-15 from the free-throw line.
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1st Half
WKU
Hilltoppers
22
WV
Mountaineers
26
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:41
Bad pass turnover on Josh Anderson, stolen by Lamont West
18:50
Personal foul on DeSean Murray
17:52
Bad pass turnover on Taveion Hollingsworth, stolen by Sagaba Konate
17:45
+2
Esa Ahmad made layup, assist by James Bolden
2-5
17:45
Shooting foul on DeSean Murray
17:45
+1
Esa Ahmad made free throw
2-6
17:37
Personal foul on James Bolden
17:17
Personal foul on James Bolden
17:15
Charles Bassey missed layup, blocked by Sagaba Konate
17:13
Defensive rebound by Sagaba Konate
17:13
Jumpball received by West Virginia
15:54
Shooting foul on Lamont West
15:54
+1
Jared Savage made free throw
6-8
15:40
Shooting foul on Marek Nelson
15:01
Shooting foul on Brandon Knapper
14:49
Shooting foul on Jared Savage
14:22
Shooting foul on Sagaba Konate
13:37
Offensive rebound by West Virginia
13:37
Personal foul on Josh Anderson
13:37
Personal foul on Tolu Smith
13:19
Shooting foul on Logan Routt
13:03
Defensive rebound by Dalano Banton
12:17
Jared Savage missed running Jump Shot, blocked by Sagaba Konate
11:19
Marek Nelson missed layup, blocked by Esa Ahmad
11:14
Personal foul on Tolu Smith
10:24
Personal foul on Jared Savage
9:35
Offensive foul on Dalano Banton
8:46
Personal foul on Lamont West
7:38
Traveling violation turnover on Esa Ahmad
7:09
Offensive foul on Sagaba Konate
6:45
Personal foul on Esa Ahmad
6:13
Offensive foul on Charles Bassey
5:38
Personal foul on Logan Routt
5:20
Andrew Gordon missed jump shot
5:13
+2
Chase Harler made layup, assist by Esa Ahmad
21-26
5:10
Shooting foul on Andrew Gordon
5:10
+1
Charles Bassey made 1st of 2 free throws
22-26
5:10
Charles Bassey missed 2nd of 2 free throws
5:10
Defensive rebound by Brandon Knapper
4:52
Bad pass turnover on Andrew Gordon, stolen by Josh Anderson