Hilltoppers Head for Saturday Afternoon Matchup at Rhode Island

WKU Game Notes | Rhode Island Game Notes

KINGSTON, R.I. — WKU Hilltopper Basketball returns to action at Rhode Island at 1 p.m. CT Saturday in Kingston, R.I. The game will stream online on ESPN+.

WKU hasn't played a regular-season game in two weeks. The Hilltoppers stayed sharp by defeating Kentucky Wesleyan 75-53 in an exhibition game on Tuesday.

Rhode Island, which is 5-0 at home, has also had a long layoff and hasn't played at all since Dec. 6. This is the first all-time meeting between the Hilltoppers and the Rams. WKU head coach Rick Stansbury has never faced Rhode Island in his career.

GAME 11

WKU (7-3) at Rhode Island (6-3)
December 21, 2019 | 1 p.m. CT
Ryan Center | Kingston, R.I.

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+ (Stone Freeman, announcer)
Live Stats: Rhode Island Stats

TOP STORYLINES

• WKU played an exhibition game against Kentucky Wesleyan on Tuesday to break up a two-week layoff. The Hilltoppers had 21 assists on 30 made baskets in a 75-53 victory and got 34 points off the bench.

• The Hilltoppers will be without the services of preseason All-American center Charles Bassey, who had season-ending surgery Dec. 10 to repair a tibial plateau fracture in his left leg.

• After WKU's victory over Arkansas on Dec. 7, the Hilltoppers are 8-4 against Power Five competition since the start of the 2017-18 season.

• Outside of WKU's loss to then-No. 2 Louisville, its other two defeats came away from home against two preseason league favorites – Bowling Green (MAC) and Wright State (Horizon) – by a combined four points.

• The Hilltoppers play 6 of 7 regular-season games away from home overall from Nov. 23 in the Virgin Islands through Saturday's game at Rhode Island.

• As of Thursday, WKU ranked 13th in the country in field-goal percentage (50.0), 23rd in free-throw percentage (77.4), 24th in fouls per game (14.4), 35th in scoring offense (80.2 ppg) and 43rd in blocks per game (4.9).

• WKU has made 26 more free throws (168) than its opponents have even attempted (142) through 10 games.

LAST GAME AGAINST RHODE ISLAND:

First meeting

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 for Saturday Afternoon Matchup at Rhode Island

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Players Mentioned

Charles Bassey