Tops Host Kentucky Wesleyan in Midweek Action

WKU Game Notes | Kentucky Wesleyan Game Notes

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — WKU Hilltopper Basketball continues a three-game homestand to open the season when it hosts Kentucky Wesleyan at 7 p.m. CT Wednesday at E.A. Diddle Arena in the 35th Annual BB&T Classic.

The Hilltoppers opened the season with an 85-80 loss to Missouri State, rallying from an early 26-4 deficit but failing to ever take the lead or tie the game.

Division II Kentucky Wesleyan has started the season 1-3 with three straight losses.

WKU beat the Panthers 103-97 in double OT in an exhibition game last year but will face KWC in regular-season action this time.

GAME 2

Kentucky Wesleyan (1-3) at WKU (0-1)
November 15, 2017 | 7 p.m. CT
Bowling Green, Ky. | E.A. Diddle Arena

BROADCAST

Listen: Hilltopper IMG Sports Network (WKLX 100.7 FM flagship), WKUSports.tv (free), TuneIn Radio (free) (Randy Lee, pxp | Hal Schmitt, analysis)
Watch: Fox College Sports Central, WKU PBS in Bowling Green, WBNA in Louisville (Radio Simulcast)
Live Stats: WKUSports.com

QUICK SHOTS

• WKU is 11-4 (.733) at E.A. Diddle Arena under head coach Rick Stansbury. The Hilltoppers are 584-167 all-time at Diddle Arena for a .778 winning percentage.
• WKU has made at least one 3-pointer in 939 consecutive games, dating back to March 15, 1987. The 3-point shot was instituted prior to the 1986-87 season.
• WKU had won 12 of its previous 13 home openers and three straight season openers before falling to Missouri State on Friday. That loss broke a streak of 14 straight nonconference home wins by the Tops.
• After making just 49 of 85 free throws (.576) in their three exhibition wins, the Hilltoppers netted 28 of 36 attempts (.778) in the season-opening loss to Missouri State. The Bears' 31 fouls were the most by a Hilltopper opponent since Alabama A&M was whistled 37 times against WKU on Nov. 15, 2010.
• Friday's attendance of 5,241 against Missouri State was the largest for a game in Diddle Arena since Jan. 30, 2016, against Middle Tennessee (5,259). It was the largest crowd for a WKU home opener since the Hilltoppers drew 6,271 against Kennesaw State to start the 2007-08 Sweet 16 season, and it was the largest crowd for a nonconference contest since 7,598 watched WKU host No. 4 Louisville on Dec. 20, 2014.
• Redshirt junior guard Lamonte Bearden's 24 points and three made 3-pointers against Missouri State were both career highs, including his two seasons as a starter at Buffalo. The 24 points were the most by a WKU newcomer in a season opener since Derrick Gordon's 25 points to open the 2011-12 campaign.
• Justin Johnson is 35th on WKU's all-time scoring list with 1,131 career points. He needs just three points to pass Jim Rose to move into 34th.
• Justin Johnson currently ranks seventh on WKU's all-time list for career field goal percentage at 55.0 percent. He's less than a percentage point from fifth place.
• Justin Johnson needs 287 rebounds to reach 1,000 for his career. That would make him just the fifth player in WKU history with 1,000 career points and 1,000 rebounds, joining Tom Marshall, Art Spoelstra, Ralph Crosthwaite and Jim McDaniels, the last to accomplish the feat in 1971.
• WKU scored 109 points in its exhibition win over Cumberland, its most points in any exhibition or regular-season game since scoring 110 against Hungarian team Atomeromu Se on Nov. 12, 2000.
• The Hilltoppers outscored their opponents by an average of 93-60 in their exhibition wins after winning both preseason tune-ups by eight or fewer points a year ago. They also outscored their final two exhibition opponents by a combined 128-46 in the paint this preseason.

TICKETS

WKU Ticket Office: Online at WKUTickets.com, in person at E.A. Diddle Arena, via phone at 1-800-5-BIG Red or 745-5222 locally.

LAST GAME AGAINST KENTUCKY WESLEYAN: NOVEMBER 5, 2016 (EXHIBITION)

Pancake Thomas hit a game-tying 3-pointer as time expired in the first extra period, and WKU outlasted KWC for a 103-97 double overtime victory at E.A. Diddle Arena. WKU held Kentucky Wesleyan to four points in the second overtime period and netted 33 of 43 free throws in the game to help seal the victory.

MED CENTER HEALTH

The 2017-18 WKU Basketball season is presented by Med Center Health. With The Medical Center at its core, Med Center Health has served Southcentral Kentucky for more than 90 years, and its system of care includes six acute care hospitals, a complete network of immediate to emergency services and services in dozens of specialties. Whether it is emergency treatment for heart attack victims or preventative programs to improve the health of the communities it serves, Med Center Health is committed to providing the highest level of care and service.

How to follow the Hilltoppers: For complete information on WKU Hilltopper Basketball, follow the team's social media channels, @WKUBasketball on Twitter, @WKUBasketball on Instagram, and WKU Basketball on Facebook.

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Players Mentioned

Lamonte Bearden

Justin Johnson

Pancake Thomas