Tops Look to Bounce Back in Early Saturday Matchup at FIU

WKU Game Notes | FIU Game Notes

MIAMI — WKU Hilltopper Basketball will look to get back on track at FIU at 11 a.m. CT Saturday in Miami, Fla. The game will stream exclusively on Facebook and be produced by Stadium.

The Hilltoppers had a five-game winning streak broken Thursday with a 69-65 loss at Florida Atlantic. They're one game out of first place in the league.

FIU has lost two straight, most recently falling 84-74 at home to Marshall on Thursday. WKU is 34-8 all-time against the Panthers, including 13-4 in Miami. Head coach Rick Stansbury is 2-1 in his career against FIU.

GAME 22

WKU (14-7, 7-2 C-USA) at FIU (14-8, 5-4)
February 1, 2020 | 11 a.m. CT
FIU Arena | Miami, 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 (Noah Coslov, pxp | Doug Gottlieb, analysis | Kristen Balboni, sideline)
Live Stats: FIU 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 had ever made the trip to either program.

• In the last seven games, junior guard Taveion Hollingsworth is averaging 20.9 points per game while shooting 50.5 percent from the field and 88.9 (40 of 45) percent from the free-throw line. Hollingsworth now has 1,320 career points and ranks 21st on WKU's all-time scoring list.

• Since the season-ending injury to Charles Bassey, redshirt junior forward Carson Williams is averaging 14.7 points and 7.6 rebounds over the last 11 outings. He's shooting 56.7 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 10 of the last 12.

• As of Friday, WKU ranked 40th in the country in field-goal percentage (46.6), fifth in free-throw percentage (78.5), 23rd in free throws made (361), fifth in fouls per game (13.6) and 58th in scoring offense (76.6 ppg).

• WKU has made 80 more free throws (351) than its opponents have even attempted (271) through 21 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 FIU: JANUARY 17, 2019

WKU saw a double-digit lead slip away, falling 77-76 to FIU at E.A. Diddle Arena.

The Hilltoppers led by 16 with 11:29 remaining, but the Panthers came roaring back, and Brian Beard tossed in the winning layup with nine seconds left.

WKU shot 50.9 percent from the field and recorded 18 assists on 28 made baskets, but turned the ball over 18 times, including 11 in the second half.

Jared Savage led the Hilltoppers with 19 points, nine rebounds and three assists. Josh Anderson and Taveion Hollingsworth had 17 and 14 points, respectively.

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

Jared Savage

Carson Williams