Tops Visit League-Leading ODU to Open C-USA Bonus Play

Coach Stansbury Video Interview | Bassey/Hollingsworth Video Interview

WKU Game Notes | Old Dominion Game Notes

NORFOLK, Va. — WKU Hilltopper Basketball begins Conference USA Bonus Play at Old Dominion at noon CT Saturday in Norfolk, Va. The game can be streamed online via Stadium and will also air locally in Bowling Green on WKU-PBS.

The Hilltoppers have won eight of their last 10 games and sit in second place in the league behind ODU.

Old Dominion has a two-game lead on WKU in the standings coming down the stretch. The Monarchs have won 10 of their last 11 games. The all-time series between the teams is tied at 19-19, and WKU head coach Rick Stansbury is 4-3 in his career against the Monarchs.

GAME 28

WKU (16-11, 9-5 C-USA) at Old Dominion (21-6, 11-3 C-USA)
February 23, 2019 | Noon CT
Ted Constant Convocation Center | Norfolk, Va.

BROADCAST

Listen: Hilltopper IMG Sports Network (WKLX 100.7 FM flagship), WKUSports.tv (free), TuneIn Radio (Randy Lee, pxp | Hal Schmitt, analysis)
Watch: Stadium; WKU-PBS in Bowling Green (Mike Monaco, pxp | Dani Klupenger, analysis)
Live Stats: Old Dominion Stats

QUICK SHOTS

• WKU head coach Rick Stansbury will return this week after missing four games with a back injury that required surgery on Feb. 15. Assistant Marc Hsu served as interim coach in his place.
• WKU became the fifth program in NCAA history to reach 1,000 straight games with a made 3-pointer at Rice on Feb. 7. The Hilltoppers' streak of 1,003 games dates back to March 15, 1987.
• WKU is one of the youngest teams in the country, ranking 322nd of 353 in experience, per Ken Pomeroy.
• WKU ranks eighth in the country in total blocks and 10th in blocked shots per game, and 16th in percentage of opponents' shots blocked, according to Ken Pomeroy. Its average of 5.1 blocks per game would tie its highest on record. Charles Bassey ranks second in C-USA in blocks per game (2.4).
• In the last six games, redshirt senior guard Lamonte Bearden has 44 combined assists against just seven turnovers. He leads C-USA in conference play with a 3.9-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
• After scoring 13-plus points just once in the Hilltoppers' first 10 games of the season, sophomore guard Josh Anderson has scored at least 13 points in 13 of the last 17 games for WKU.
• WKU freshman center Charles Bassey could become 1 of 2 freshmen in the country since 1992 – along with current NBA star Anthony Davis – to average 14 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks per game, while also shooting at least 60 percent from the field.
• As of Thursday, Charles Bassey ranked second in the nation among freshmen in total rebounds (271), third in total blocks (65) and third in field-goal percentage (63.8 percent).
• As of Wednesday, Charles Bassey ranked in the top 30 nationally in double-doubles (16th), field-goal percentage (9th), blocks per game (16th), total blocks (9th), rebounds per game (20th), defensive rebounds per game (27th) and total rebounds (13th).
• Charles Bassey's 13 double-doubles this season are the most on record by a Hilltopper freshman. Bassey leads C-USA in double-doubles and is 1 of 3 freshmen in the entire nation averaging a double-double.

LAST GAME AGAINST OLD DOMINION: JANUARY 5, 2019

WKU opened the game with a 21-0 run, but Old Dominion battled back and dealt the Hilltoppers a 69-66 road loss. Taveion Hollingsworth and Charles Bassey each led WKU with 19 points. Bassey added 12 rebounds.

MED CENTER HEALTH

The 2018-19 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.

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Players Mentioned

Josh Anderson

Charles Bassey

Lamonte Bearden

Taveion Hollingsworth