Tops Welcome Undefeated Arkansas to Diddle Arena on Saturday

WKU Game Notes | Arkansas Game Notes | WKU Gameday Information

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — After playing five straight games away from home, WKU returns to E.A. Diddle Arena to host Arkansas at 6:30 p.m. CT Saturday. The game will air on CBS Sports Network.

The Hilltoppers have lost two straight games, most recently falling 76-74 at Horizon League preseason favorite Wright State on Tuesday.

Arkansas is 8-0 after beating Austin Peay 69-61 at home Tuesday. WKU is 3-4 all-time against the Razorbacks but has won two straight, including a 78-77 victory last year in Fayetteville. WKU head coach Rick Stansbury, a longtime SEC head coach, is 17-14 in his career against Arkansas.

GAME 10

Arkansas (8-0) at WKU (6-3)
December 7, 2019 | 6:30 p.m. CT
E.A. Diddle Arena | Bowling Green, 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: CBS Sports Network (Ben Holden, pxp | Mike O'Donnell, analysis)
Live Stats: WKU Stats

TOP STORYLINES

• WKU is 27-48 all-time against the current SEC membership, while head coach Rick Stansbury is 141-116 against current SEC members. This is the first time the Hilltoppers have hosted a SEC team since falling 79-74 to Ole Miss on Dec. 30, 2013.

• Since the start of the 2017-18 season, WKU is 7-4 against Power Five competition.

• Outside of WKU's loss to now-No. 1 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.

• WKU is coming off five straight games away from Diddle Arena. The Hilltoppers play 6 of 7 regular-season games away from home overall from Nov. 23 in the Virgin Islands through the Dec. 21 game at Rhode Island.

• As of Thursday, WKU ranked 15th in the country in field-goal percentage (50.5), 14th in free-throw percentage (78.8), 19th in free throws made (149), 26th in total blocks (45) and 55th in scoring offense (79.6 ppg). Arkansas is first in the nation in 3-point defense, fifth in scoring defense and ninth in scoring offense.

• WKU has made 27 more free throws (149) than its opponents have even attempted (122) through nine games.

• WKU sophomore center Charles Bassey has 143 points, 86 rebounds, 15 blocks and eight steals this season. As of Thursday, he was the only player in the nation with at least those numbers.

TICKETS

WKU Ticket Office: Limited single-game tickets for the Arkansas game remain available in person at the WKU Ticket Office, by phone at 1-800-5-BIGRED or online at WKUTickets.com.

PROMOTIONS

• CUE Audio Light Show - Pregame and Halftime
• American Bank and Trust putt from 3pt line to win $1,000 cash
• Wendy's Freeze Out Promo - If an opposing player misses two free throws in a row, every fan in the arena gets a free Wendy's Frosty
• Smart Start Post Game Shootaround on court for all kids
• Taco Bell Challenge – When WKU scores 70 points or more, all fans can redeem a free taco at Taco Bell

LAST GAME AGAINST ARKANSAS: DECEMBER 8, 2018

WKU stormed back from an eight-point halftime deficit at Arkansas, holding on for the 78-77 upset road victory at Bud Walton Arena.

The Hilltoppers led with under a minute to go, but a putback by Arkansas' Daniel Gafford put the Razorbacks up 77-76 with 45 seconds left. WKU didn't blink, as Bassey passed out of a double team to a wide-open Marek Nelson for the game-winning layup on the next possession

Charles Bassey – going against a fellow NBA prospect in Daniel Gafford – led WKU with 21 points, nine rebounds and a career-high five blocks.

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.

Tops Welcome Undefeated Arkansas to Diddle Arena on Saturday

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Players Mentioned

Charles Bassey

Marek Nelson