# 1961–62 Western Kentucky State Hilltoppers basketball team

The 1961–62 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky State College (now known as Western Kentucky University) during the 1961-62 NCAA University Division Basketball season. The Hilltoppers were led by Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year Edgar Diddle, in his 40th year as coach, and leading scorer Bobby Rascoe, who averaged more than 25 points per game. The Hilltoppers won the OVC championship, as well as the conference's automatic bid to the 1962 NCAA University Division basketball tournament, where they advanced to the Sweet Sixteen.
Rascoe, Darel Carrier, and Harry Todd were named to the all-conference team. Diddle coached his 1000th game at Western on January 6, a victory against New Mexico State.

## Schedule

| Date time, TV | Opponent | Result | Record | Site city, state |
| Regular Season |||||
| 12/9/1961* | at Kent State | W 88–81 | 1–0 | Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center Kent, OH |
| 12/12/1961* | Northwest Louisiana | W 93–66 | 2–0 | Health & Physical Education Building Bowling Green, KY |
| 12/15/1961* | vs. No. 9 St. Bonaventure Bluegrass Tournament | L 65–66 | 2–1 | Freedom Hall Louisville, KY |
| 12/16/1961* | vs. Texas Bluegrass Tournament | L 68–78 | 2–2 | Freedom Hall Louisville, KY |
| 12/19/1961* | Southeastern Louisiana | W 86–62 | 3–2 | Health & Physical Education Building Bowling Green, KY |
| 12/29/1961* | at Marshall | L 84–89 | 3–3 | Memorial Field House Huntington, WV |
| 12/30/1961* | at Xavier | L 83–95 | 3–4 | Schmidt Fieldhouse Cincinnati, OH |
| 1/6/1962* | New Mexico State Diddle’s 1000th Game | W 71–67 | 4–4 | Health & Physical Education Building Bowling Green, KY |
| 1/9/1962 | Tennessee Tech | W 93–61 | 5–4 (1-0) | Health & Physical Education Building Bowling Green, KY |
| 1/13/1962 | at Murray State | W 72–61 | 6–4 (2-0) | Racer Arena Murray, KY |
| 1/18/1962 | at Morehead State | W 80–79 | 7–4 (3-0) | Wetherby Gymnasium Morehead, KY |
| 1/20/1962 | Middle Tennessee | W 89–69 | 8–4 (4-0) | Health & Physical Education Building Bowling Green, KY |
| 1/27/1962 | at Eastern Kentucky | W 96–62 | 9–4 (5-0) | Alumni Coliseum Richmond, KY |
| 1/30/1962 | at Tennessee Tech | L 72–79 | 9–5 (5-1) | Memorial Gymnasium Cookeville, TN |
| 2/3/1962* | at DePaul | L 78–86 | 9–6 | Alumni Hall Chicago, IL |
| 2/6/1962 | at East Tennessee | W 89–84 | 10–6 (6-1) | Brooks Gymnasium Johnson City, TN |
| 2/13/1962 | at Middle Tennessee | W 87–81 | 11–6 (7-1) | Alumni Memorial Gym Murfreesboro, TN |
| 2/17/1962 | Murray State | W 96–77 | 12–6 (8-1) | Health & Physical Education Building Bowling Green, KY |
| 2/19/1962 | Morehead State | W 77–51 | 13–6 (9-1) | Health & Physical Education Building Bowling Green, KY |
| 2/21/1962* | Xavier | W 88–83 | 14–6 | Health & Physical Education Building Bowling Green, KY |
| 2/24/1962 | Eastern Kentucky | W 88–74 | 15–6 (10-1) | Health & Physical Education Building Bowling Green, KY |
| 2/26/1962 | East Tennessee | W 77–66 | 16–6 (11-1) | Health & Physical Education Building Bowling Green, KY |
| 3/2/1962* | at La Salle | L 84–88 | 16–7 | Convention Hall Philadelphia, PA |
| 3/7/1962* | at Louisville | L 71–88 | 16–8 | Freedom Hall Louisville, KY |
| 1962 NCAA University Division basketball tournament |||||
| 3/12/1962* | vs. Detroit Mideast Region First Round | W 90–81 | 17–8 | Memorial Coliseum Lexington, KY |
| 3/16/1962* | vs. No. 1 Ohio State Sweet Sixteen | L 73–93 | 17–9 | Iowa Field House Iowa City, IA |
| 3/17/1962* | vs. Butler Mideast Region Consolation | L 86–87 | 17–10 | Iowa Field House Iowa City, IA |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. |||||