MOBILE, Ala. – Sergio Kerusch scored 20 points and Steffphon Pettigrew had 19 as Western Kentucky held on for an 84-75 win over South Alabama on Thursday night, ending a six-game skid.
The Hilltoppers (6-11, 1-4 Sun Belt Conference) saw a 24-point lead with 15:17 to go whittled down to five points, at 73-68 with 3:44 left.
The Jaguars (7-10, 1-5) could get no closer as they did not make another field goal until Allyn Cooks' jumper with 36 seconds to go.
Juan Pattillo had 12 points and 10 rebounds for Western Kentucky and Kahlil McDonald added 15 points.
The Hilltoppers outshot South Alabama from the field 56.6 percent (30 of 53) to 39.1 percent (27 of 69), although the Jaguars scored 26 points off 21 Western Kentucky turnovers.
Martino Brock scored 17 points for South Alabama, which has lost four in a row. Gary Redus had 15 and Augustine Rubit had 11 points and 12 rebounds.
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