March 24 , 2008

WKU Advances to the NCAA Sweet 16

A San Diego Win Takes Toppers to 3rd Round

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Bowling Green is crazed with excitement after the Western Kentucky University Men's Basketball team defeated San Diego in Round 2 of the NCAA Tournament yesterday securing their spot in the 2008 Sweet 16. This will be the first Sweet 16 appearance for WKU since 1993.

WKU merchandise has been flying off of the University Bookstore shelves and nearly 750 people gathered at the regional airport Sunday night to welcome the winners home from Tampa. Red Towels, WKU's signature cheer accessory, have been seen around town flying from car windows and Ty Rogers, who made the last second shot in OT against Drake during Round 1, is certainly a local hero.

"We're going crazy around here," said Bowling Green resident Eddie Smith, a WKU season ticket holder for more than twenty years. "It's all red in Kentucky for this year's NCAA Tournament!"

Next, the WKU Hilltoppers travel to Arizona to match up against No. 1 seed UCLA on Thursday night. Bowling Green will be celebrating this season, however, long after March Madness is over.

For continued local media coverage of the tournament, visit the Bowling Green Daily News website at http://www.bgdailynews.com or WBKO TV at http://www.wbko.com.

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