BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — WKU Hilltopper Basketball found its offensive rhythm Saturday night, defeating FIU 83-76 at E.A. Diddle Arena.
The Hilltoppers (18-7, 10-2 Conference USA) shot 56.5 percent from the field and netted 28 of 39 free throws, attacking the rim consistently in front of a crowd of 6,429.
Senior forward Justin Johnson led WKU with 25 points – just two shy of his career high – and seven rebounds, while senior guard Darius Thompson finished with 18 points, four assists and three steals in 40 minutes.
Redshirt junior guard Lamonte Bearden tallied 15 points, four assists and four steals with no turnovers in 24 minutes off the bench. Freshman guard Josh Anderson scored 13 points and grabbed a career-high nine rebounds in 29 minutes.
WKU trailed 33-27 with less than four minutes left in the first half, but the Hilltoppers scored eight of the last 10 points of the half to tie it at 35-35 at the break.
They pulled away with seven straight points midway through the second half, building a 59-49 lead with 10:01 left on a layup by Thompson.
FIU (11-15, 5-8) got back within two in the final minutes, but WKU continued to excel at the free throw line, making 23 of 31 in the second half.
After getting outrebounded 17-9 in the first half, the Hilltoppers won the boards 22-13 in the second half to finish with a 31-30 edge.
WKU forced 10 steals – its most since Dec. 22 at Austin Peay – and turned that into 18 points off turnovers.
Trejon Jacob led FIU with 22 points, including four 3-pointers.
The Hilltoppers head back on the road next week for two games, starting at North Texas at 8 p.m. CT Thursday.
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