The free throws, which gave the Hilltoppers a 77-75 lead, climaxed a rally for Western Kentucky, which had trailed by six points with eight minutes left.

They also wrote a disappointing end to KU's 27-3 season, one of the finest in Jayhawk basketball history.

Western Kentucky took the lead for good at 75-73 with 45 seconds left on a corner jumper by 7-0 Jim McDaniels, who poured in 36 points.

The Jayhawks had two opportunities to tie it, but McDaniels blocked Kivisto's drive shot with 45 seconds left.

But Stallworth's 12-footer bounced high off the rim and Pierre Russell's tip shot wouldn't fall. Stallworth fouled Dunn on the inbounds pass. The 6-5 junior, who had missed the front end of a one-and-one with four seconds left in Thursday's loss to Villanova, calmly dropped in both tries this time.

Still KU didn't realize it was beaten. Dave Tobisch, who led the Jayhawks with 23 points, drove for a layup with two seconds to go and KU frantically called a timeout with one second to go.

Aubrey Nash stole the Hilltoppers' inbounds pass at mid-court and heaved a basketball shot at the basket. But it bounced harmlessly off the glass.

Poor shooting and ball handling doomed the Jayhawks. They committed 13 turnovers in the first half while hitting only 15 of 41 from the filed and 7 of 17 free throws. Only a 34-24 rebounding edge and a rugged defense saved them from a worse fate than the 36-37 deficit they faced.

With Nash leading the fast break, the Jayhawks raced to a 46-43 lead in the first four minutes of the second half. But then, the turnovers and poor shooting began to haunt them again.

In six trips down the court, KU missed five shots and turned the ball over twice as the Hilltoppers went back on top 47-46 with 14:38 left.

A five-point splurge by Robisch, Kivisto and Roger Brown made it 51-47 with 13:45 to go and the Jayhawks held the lead until McDaniels forged a 65-all tie at 5:35.

The score was tied four more times before McDaniels' corner shot.

KU seemed in good position with the Hilltopper front line of McDaniels, Clarence Glover, and Dunn on the bench with three fouls in the final 1:45 of the first half. But KU went to its delay game and the Jayhawks gained no ground during that stretch.

Glover fouled out with 7:14 left, but that was matched by KU's loos of Randy Canfield. In the end, it was KU which decided to go to the delay game with a 67-all tie ad 4:52 left.

The Jayhawks drew a couple of fouls but weren't in the one-and-one yet and had to trade single free throws for two pointers by the Hilltoppers.

KU finished with 24 turnovers and 30 of 83 from the field, only slightly worse than the Hilltoppers 19 errors and 28-of-76 shooting. And the Jayhawks held 50-52 rebounding advantage.

But Western Kentucky won it at the free throw line, hitting 21 of 31 to Kansas' 15 of 27.

Brown backed up Robisch with 16 points and 16 rebounds, Stallworth added 10 points and 14 rebounds and Nash 10 points.

McDaniels added 19 rebounds to his 25-point harvest. Jim Rose had 11 points, Glover 10 points and 13 rebounds, and Dunn 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Western Kentucky finished the season 24-6.