Hilltoppers Head to Eastern Kentucky for Season's First Road Trip

WKU Game Notes | Eastern Kentucky Game Notes

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — WKU Hilltopper Basketball plays its first road game of the season at Eastern Kentucky at 6 p.m. CT Friday in Richmond, Ky. The game will air online on ESPN+.

The Hilltoppers improved to 2-0 on Saturday night with a 97-75 victory over Austin Peay.

Eastern Kentucky bounced back from a loss at Kentucky with a 129-43 rout of Ohio-Chillicothe on Tuesday night. WKU is 113-44 all-time against the Colonels – a former longtime OVC rival – in a series that dates back to 1914. Hilltopper head coach Rick Stansbury is 3-1 in his career against Eastern Kentucky.

GAME 3

WKU (2-0) at Eastern Kentucky (2-1)
November 15, 2019 | 6 p.m. CT
McBrayer Arena | Richmond, Ky.

BROADCAST

Listen: Hilltopper Sports Network (WKLX 100.7 FM flagship), C-USA.tv Audio (free), TuneIn Radio (Randy Lee, pxp | Hal Schmitt, analysis)
Watch: ESPN+ (Greg Stotelmyer, pxp | Doug Sallee, analysis)
Live Stats: Eastern Kentucky Stats

TOP STORYLINES

• WKU opens the season with three straight games against Ohio Valley Conference opponents in Tennessee Tech, Austin Peay and Eastern Kentucky. The last time the Hilltoppers played three straight OVC foes was 2004-05, when WKU picked up three consecutive wins over Southeast Missouri State, Murray State and EKU.

• WKU is trying to start 3-0 for the first time since the 2007-08 Sweet 16 campaign.

• In Saturday's win over Austin Peay, the Hilltoppers shot 60 percent from the field, 52 percent from the 3-point line and 89 percent from the free-throw line. Those marks have only been reached 28 times nationally in a game since the start of the 2015-16 season.

• WKU has made 16 more free throws (45) than its opponents have even attempted (29) through two games.

• This game is a homecoming for freshman forward Isaiah Cozart, who was a standout prep player at Madison Central High School in Richmond, Ky. Cozart is the all-time blocks leader in Kentucky high school history.

• Across WKU's two opening regular-season wins and an exhibition victory, redshirt junior forward Carson Williams has grabbed 13 total offensive rebounds and scored 23 points on second-chance plays.

• WKU sophomore center Charles Bassey has been named to the watch lists for the Naismith Trophy and the John R. Wooden Award, two of the most prestigious National Player of the Year honors in the country.

LAST GAME AGAINST EASTERN KENTUCKY: NOVEMBER 29, 2017

WKU turned in one of its most efficient efforts in recent memory, rolling past in-state foe Eastern Kentucky 83-51 at E.A. Diddle Arena.

The Hilltoppers had seven players in double figures for the first time since 2001, and they tallied a season-high 24 assists with just six turnovers. WKU made a season-high 10 of 18 3-pointers and shot 66.7 percent in the second half, outrebounding Eastern Kentucky 38-28.

Redshirt junior guard Lamonte Bearden led the way with 16 points and six assists, while freshman guard Taveion Hollingsworth added 14 points and four assists.

Senior guard Darius Thompson, freshman guard Jake Ohmer and senior forward Justin Johnson all had 11 points.

MED CENTER HEALTH

The 2019-20 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.

Hilltoppers Head to Eastern Kentucky for Season's First Road Trip

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Players Mentioned

Charles Bassey

Lamonte Bearden

Isaiah Cozart

Taveion Hollingsworth

Jake Ohmer

Carson Williams