Tops Start Florida Road Swing at FAU on Thursday Night

WKU Game Notes

Preview Press Conference: Coach Stansbury | Savage/Williams

BOCA RATON, Fla. — WKU Hilltopper Basketball heads for warmer weather with a road trip this week, starting at Florida Atlantic at 6 p.m. CT Thursday in Boca Raton, Fla. The game will stream exclusively on Facebook and be produced by Stadium.

The Hilltoppers have won five straight games, including a two-game rivalry sweep of Marshall last week.

Florida Atlantic has lost three straight games, but is 10-2 overall at home this season. WKU is 16-5 all-time against the Owls and has won the last six meetings. The Hilltoppers are 7-2 all-time in Boca Raton. Head coach Rick Stansbury is 4-1 in his career against Florida Atlantic.

GAME 21

WKU (14-6, 7-1 C-USA) at Florida Atlantic (12-9, 4-4 C-USA)
January 30, 2019 | 6 p.m. CT
RoofClaim.com Arena | Boca Raton, Fla.

BROADCAST

Listen: Hilltopper Sports Network (WKLX 100.7 FM flagship), C-USA.tv Audio (free), TuneIn Radio (Randy Lee, pxp | Hal Schmitt, analysis)
Watch: Stadium on Facebook (Chris Hassel, pxp | Doug Gottlieb, analysis | Kristen Balboni, sideline)
Live Stats: Florida Atlantic Stats

TOP STORYLINES

• This is the first time WKU has made the Florida Atlantic-FIU road swing since the 2016-17 season. No current Hilltoppers have ever made the trip to either program.

• In the last six games, junior guard Taveion Hollingsworth is averaging 21.3 points per game while shooting 51.9 percent from the field and 88.4 (38 of 43) percent from the free-throw line. Hollingsworth now has 1,302 career points and ranks 24th on WKU's all-time scoring list.

• Since the season-ending injury to Charles Bassey, redshirt junior forward Carson Williams is averaging 15.6 points and 7.8 rebounds over the last 10 outings. He's shooting 58.1 percent from the field overall.

• Junior guard Josh Anderson entered the starting lineup with Bassey out. After reaching double figures in two of the first nine games of the year, Anderson has scored at least 10 points in nine of the last 11.

• As of Tuesday, WKU ranked 34th in the country in field-goal percentage (47.0), eighth in free-throw percentage (78.4), eighth in fouls per game (13.7), 52nd in scoring offense (77.2 ppg) and 52nd in total blocks (89).

• WKU has made 73 more free throws (338) than its opponents have even attempted (265) through 20 games.

• WKU's 19-point comeback at Marshall on Jan. 22 was the program's second-largest deficit overcome since 2002, behind only a 25-point comeback against North Texas on Feb. 12, 2005.

LAST GAME AGAINST FLORIDA ATLANTIC: JANUARY 19, 2019

WKU withstood a 3-point barrage from Florida Atlantic, snapping a three-game losing streak with a 72-66 victory at E.A. Diddle Arena.

The Hilltoppers trailed for more than 25 minutes and allowed Florida Atlantic to make 14 3-pointers, but WKU seized control over the final eight minutes.

Sophomore guard Taveion Hollingsworth paved the way with 24 points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists.

Sophomore guard Josh Anderson had 15 points and six rebounds, and freshman center Charles Bassey recorded 10 points, 11 rebounds and three 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.

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Players Mentioned

Josh Anderson

Charles Bassey

Taveion Hollingsworth

Carson Williams