The Hilltoppers danced in the locker room Thursday night, and coach Ray Harper had hugs for his players as he entered.
Western Kentucky had fun in this outing. It paid off in the final result.
The Tops (11-10 overall, 3-5 Conference USA) shed the frustrations of a trying few weeks and found some common ground in a 69-62 victory over league front-runner UAB at E.A. Diddle Arena.
"We talked when we left the locker room, we're one," Harper said. "We're one heartbeat, and that's exactly who we were for 40 minutes. We never caved. We never gave in.