BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — WKU Hilltopper Basketball assisted on its first 16 made baskets Saturday and used a strong day from behind the arc to outrun Southern Miss 82-66 at E.A. Diddle Arena.
The Hilltoppers (10-5) improved to 2-0 in conference play for the fifth time in the last six years. They also reached 10 wins before January for the first time since the 2012-13 campaign.
WKU reached 80 points for the eighth time in 15 outings this season and shot 52 percent overall – breaking 50 percent from the floor for the eighth time this year.
The Hilltoppers knocked down a season-high 12 3-pointers on 24 attempts and finished with 22 assists on 26 field goals.
Senior forward Dwight Coleby had a career-high 20 points and went 10-for-10 from the free-throw line with seven rebounds.
Senior guard Darius Thompson made four 3-pointers and scored 15 points with seven assists, while senior forward Justin Johnson had 15 points and 13 rebounds for his 29th career double-double.
Freshman guard Taveion Hollingsworth tallied 12 points and four assists, and redshirt junior guard Lamonte Bearden finished with 10 points, a season-high eight assists and five rebounds.
WKU surged out to a 12-2 lead to start the game, but later stalled for a bit and went without scoring for more than five minutes.
Southern Miss clawed back within four at 27-23 before Johnson responded with a 3-pointer and a layup.
The Golden Eagles got a putback just before the buzzer to cut the Hilltoppers' lead to 32-25 at the break.
WKU assisted on all 12 of its made field goals in the first half, including a combined nine from Thompson and Bearden.
The Hilltoppers got off to a strong start in the second half with a 20-8 run over the first five minutes and never looked back.
WKU made 18 of 22 free throws – 16 of 20 in the second half – and outscored Southern Miss 11-0 in fast-break points.
Tyree Griffin had 14 points and six assists to pace the Golden Eagles (7-8, 0-2).
WKU has a week off before it heads for its first conference road game at Marshall at 6 p.m. CT Saturday.
Western Kentucky University Athletics
- Champions Climb Here
- WKU Athletics
- Athletic Director
- Academic Services
- Annual Report
- Athletic Communications
- Athletic Hall of Fame
- Athletic Training
- Big Red
- CLIMB Program - NIL
- Compliance
- Facilities
- Financial Reports
- For Students
- Student Employment
- Forms/Requests
- Book Big Red
- Donation Requests
- Site Feedback
- For Fans
- Hilltopper Highlights
- Gameday Promotions
- Alumni Tailgates
- Big Red's Rascals
- Basketball Gameday
- Football Gameday
- Mobile Tickets
- Travel Center
- Tickets
- Give
