TAMPA, Fla. — Western Kentucky blew another big lead, then responded with another clutch performance.

Behind Courtney Lee's dazzling array of shots early and his free throws late, the 12th-seeded Hilltoppers advanced to the round of 16 for the first time in 15 years with a 72-63 win over No. 13 San Diego (22-14) yesterday.

Western Kentucky (29-6) will face top-seeded UCLA in the West Region semifinals in Phoenix. The Hilltoppers can only hope their three senior guards — Lee, Tyrone Brazelton and Ty Rogers — will carry them through another round.

"I'm not totally surprised that we're here," Hilltoppers coach Darrin Horn said. "We thought this was a special team coming into it. ... We've been telling these guys for two years, three years really, 'If we get there, we've got a real chance to make some noise.' "

Western Kentucky is in the round of 16 for the first time since 1993, and is looking for better results. It lost to Florida State, 81-78, in overtime in Charlotte, N.C., to end that season.

"One of our goals was to win the conference championship so we can position ourselves to come here and play games," Lee said. "We didn't want to stop with that. We wanted to come and make noise."