Miller's 3-pointer sinks Western Kentucky, 63-60
| • | Hawai'i, Butler reach Rainbow Classic final |
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By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
In a matter of seconds, Butler's Brandon Miller turned his worst game into his best against Western Kentucky last night.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
Miller's 3-point basket with 2.4 seconds left — his only field goal of the game — sparked the Bulldogs past the Hilltoppers, 63-60, in the Rainbow Classic semifinal last night.
Butler's Darnell Archey attempts to drive past Western Kentucky's Mike Wells in the first half.
It was a pinch-me ending for Miller who had gone 0-for-8 from the field before firing up the game-winner from the top of the key.
"I've taken that shot a million times at the gym by myself," Miller said. "You count down and you pretend. It's a dream to hit the last-second shot."
Miller's heroics helped Butler continue its undefeated season and propelled the Bulldogs (10-0) into the championship game against Hawai'i (6-1) at 7:30 tonight. Western Kentucky (6-5) will play Tennessee Tech (6-5) in the third-place game at 5 p.m.
The Rainbow Warriors defeated Tennessee Tech, 74-61.
Butler coach Todd Lickliter said the final play was designed to take advantage of a defensive mismatch that occurred when Western Kentucky switched defenders on a Butler screen. During the switch, 6-foot-7 freshman forward Jamaal Brown was left to guard the 6-foot Miller at the top of the key.
"I knew I would have a bigger guy guarding me," Miller said. "He backed off a little bit and I shot the shot. I was really glad to see it go through the net."
Lickliter said he had no complaints on letting Miller take the final shot, saying "I never doubt him. If he was 0-for-50, I'd let him shoot the last one. He's earned that."
The Bulldogs led by as many as 15 points in the first half (32-17), but saw the Hilltoppers storm back with a 35-31 second half behind the play of senior guard Filip Videnov and senior forward Nate Williams. Videnov scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half and Williams scored 12 of his 15 points in the final 20 minutes.
The Hilltoppers shot 54 percent in the second half (14 of 26) while holding the Bulldogs to 37 percent shooting (10 of 27).
Junior guard Darnell Archey's 3-point basket pumped Butler's lead to 58-51 with 2:34 left, but Western Kentucky went on a 9-2 run to tie the game at 60.
During that surge, Western Kentucky's Williams hit a basket and was fouled with Butler leading 58-53 with 2:17 left. Williams missed the free throw, but Videnov grabbed the rebound and scored, cutting the lead to 58-55.
A layup by Butler's Joel Cornette pushed the lead to 60-55, but the Hilltoppers scored five points on a three-point play by Mike Wells and a bucket by Williams with 34.9 seconds left to tie the score at 60.
That left the stage open for Miller's game-winning shot. After Miller's shot, Western Kentucky had a chance to tie the game with 2.4 seconds to go, but Patrick Sparks fumbled the inbounds pass and couldn't call time out.
"Butler's a really tough team," Western Kentucky coach Dennis Felton said. "They're difficult to guard because they have so many guys who can shoot the three. They really spread you out. It's a lot of floor to defend with so many guys who can shoot and handle the ball."
BUTLER (10-0)
Curry 2-4 0-0 4, Monserez 4-8 2-2 12, Cornette 4-8 0-3 8, Archey 3-12 5-5 14, Miller 1-9 2-2 5, Lightfoot 4-7 0-0 8, Horan 0-2 0-0 0, Sheets 4-7 0-0 12. Totals 22-57 9-12 63.
WESTERN KENTUCKY (6-5)
Boyden 4-12 0-0 8, Williams 6-12 3-5 15, Sparks 3-10 1-2 9, Wells 2-5 1-1 6, Videnov 8-10 0-0 18, Winchester 2-4 0-0 4, Rumph 0-1 0-0 0, Brown 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 25-56 5-8 60.
Halftime—Butler 32-25. 3-Point goals—Butler 10-30 (Sheets 4-7, Archey 3-9, Monserez 2-5, Miller 1-5, Curry 0-2, Horan 0-2), Western Kentucky 5-19 (Videnov 2-4, Sparks 2-6, Wells 1-4, Winchester 0-1, Boyden 0-4). Fouled out—None. Rebounds—Butler 28 (Cornette 7), Western Kentucky 39 (Videnov 8). Assists—Butler 10 (Monserez, Cornette 4), Western Kentucky 11 (Sparks 6). Total fouls—Butler 11, Western Kentucky 10.
