1978–79 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team

The 1978–79 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky University during the 1978–79 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Hilltoppers were members of the Ohio Valley Conference and led by future National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame coach Gene Keady in his first year as head coach.[1] WKU finished tied for second in the OVC regular season. The conference tournament was hosted by regular season champion Eastern Kentucky.[2] Western Kentucky had defeated EKU twice during the season, but their third meeting in the conference tournament championship ended in controversy. The Hilltoppers held a one-point lead when the game clock expired, however, due to crowd noise, the referees and time keeper did not hear the buzzer. A foul was called on WKU with no time left and Eastern Kentucky made two free throws to win the game. A review of game film afterwards showed that the foul was called 3.5 seconds after the game clock had ended. Western Kentucky appealed to the OVC Commissioner, however, their appeal was denied.[3] This perceived wrong was a factor in Western Kentucky's decision to leave the OVC in 1982.[4] Greg Jackson and Trey Trumbo were named to the All-OVC Team, and Jackson was OVC Tournament MVP.[5]

1978–79 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball
ConferenceOhio Valley Conference
Record17–11 (7–5 OVC)
Head coach
Assistant coachClem Haskins
Home arenaE. A. Diddle Arena
Seasons
1978–79 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Eastern Kentucky 9 3   .750 21 8   .724
Western Kentucky 7 5   .583 17 11   .607
Morehead State 7 5   .583 14 13   .519
Middle Tennessee 7 5   .583 16 11   .593
Tennessee Tech 7 5   .583 11 15   .423
Austin Peay State 3 9   .250 8 18   .308
Murray State 2 10   .167 4 22   .154
1979 OVC tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll

Schedule

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[6]

Date
time, TV
Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site
city, state
Regular season
11/25/1978*
No. 1 Duke L 53–78  0–1
E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
11/27/1978*
Jacksonville State W 71–59  1–1
E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
11/30/1978*
at Florida State L 59–70  1–2
Tully Gymnasium 
Tallahassee, FL
12/2/1978*
Bowling Green State W 70–48  2–2
E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
12/4/1978*
Mississippi College W 56–53  3–2
E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
12/9/1978*
at Evansville W 63–60  4–2
Roberts Municipal Stadium 
Evansville, IN
12/15/1978*
Davidson W 103–81  5–2
E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
12/18/1978*
Illinois State L 74–75 OT 5–3
E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
12/30/1978*
at Butler W 71–65  6–3
Hinkle Fieldhouse 
Indianapolis, IN
1/6/1979*
Wisconsin-Milwaukee W 89–66  7–3
E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
1/10/1979*
at La Salle L 66–90  7–4
Palestra 
Philadelphia, PA
1/15/1979
at Tennessee Tech L 68–75  7–5 (0-1)
Eblen Center 
Cookeville, TN
1/17/1979
Morehead State W 78–76  8–5 (1-1)
E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
1/20/1979
at Murray State L 65–67  8–6 (1-2)
Racer Arena 
Murray, KY
1/22/1979
Austin Peay W 85–61  9–6 (2-2)
E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
1/24/1979*
at Dayton W 78–72  10–6
UD Arena 
Dayton, OH
2/21/1980
Middle Tennessee W 72–70 2OT 11–6 (3-2)
E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
1/29/1979
Eastern Kentucky W 70–65  12–6 (4-2)
E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
2/1/1979*
CCNY W 104–50  13–6
E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
2/3/1979
at Morehead State L 81–83  13–7 (4-3)
Wetherby Gymnasium 
Morehead, KY
2/5/1979
at Eastern Kentucky W 70–65  14–7 (5-3)
Alumni Coliseum 
Richmond, KY
2/10/1979*
at East Tennessee L 64–65  14–8
Memorial Center 
Johnson City, TN
2/12/1979
Tennessee Tech W 80–66  15–8 (6-3)
E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
2/17/1979
at Austin Peay W 78–66  16–8 (7-3)
Dunn Center 
Clarksville, TN
2/19/1979
Murray State L 64–66  16–9 (7-4)
E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
2/24/1979
at Middle Tennessee L 76–81  16–10 (7-5)
Murphy Center 
Murfreesboro, TN
1979 Ohio Valley Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
3/2/1979
(2) vs. (3) Morehead State
Semifinals
W 90–85  17–10
Alumni Coliseum 
Richmond, KY
3/3/1979
(2) at (1) Eastern Kentucky
Championship
L 77–78  17–11
Alumni Coliseum 
Richmond, KY
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.

References

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  1. ^ Lowell H. Harrison (1987). Western Kentucky University. University Press of Kentucky. pp. 276–. ISBN 978-0813116204.
  2. ^ 2019-2020 OVC Basketball Media Guide, retrieved 4 May 2020
  3. ^ Ruby, Earl (1979). Red Towel Territory : A History of Athletics at Western Kentucky University. American National Bank and Trust Co.
  4. ^ UA19/2/1 Press Conference re: WKU vs EKU Basketball Game Controversy, retrieved 28 December 2020
  5. ^ 2019-2020 WKU Basketball Media Guide retrieved 21 April 2020
  6. ^ 1978-79 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Schedule and Results, Sports Reference, retrieved 6 May 2020