Tops Set to Meet Memphis in Crossover Classic Semifinals

WKU Game Notes

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — WKU Hilltopper Basketball will meet Memphis at 11 a.m. CT Thursday in the semifinals of the Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Hilltoppers opened their season Wednesday with a 93-87 victory over Northern Iowa.

Memphis began its season by routing Saint Mary's 73-56 behind 24 points from Boogie Ellis.

The all-time series between the two programs is tied at 9-9, with the Tigers winning the last meeting in Memphis in 2010 while ranked 14th in the country. WKU head coach Rick Stansbury is 0-1 in his career against Memphis.

GAME 2

WKU (1-0) vs. Memphis (1-0)
November 26, 2020 | 11 a.m. CT
Sanford Pentagon | Sioux Falls, S.D.

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 (Rich Hollenberg, pxp | Dan Dakich, analysis)

Live Stats: Crossover Classic Stats Page

THE HILL AT HOME

The Hilltoppers' game will be featured on The Hill at Home presented by Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, a live video feed of Hal Schmitt and Voice of the Hilltoppers Randy Lee on the radio call. This broadcast of The Hill at Home can be found here (facebook.com/WKUAthletics) and will be live 30 minutes prior to tipoff. A Facebook login is required for viewing.

For more information on The Hill at Home, visit the following link: https://goto.ps/3kU1OrX

TOP STORYLINES

• WKU ended the college career of Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway when the Hilltoppers defeated Memphis State 55-52 in the opening round of the 1993 NCAA Tournament. Hardaway scored 17 points to lead the Tigers. WKU then beat Seton Hall in the following round to reach the Sweet 16.

• WKU's 42 bench points in Wednesday's win over Northern Iowa were the program's most since getting 47 points from the reserves against UAB on Feb. 27, 2016.

• The Hilltoppers received one vote in the USA Today Preseason Coaches Poll. It's the first time WKU has received a vote in a national poll since Nov. 19, 2018.

• WKU is one of 44 programs in the nation to win at least 20 games in each of the last three seasons.

• Taveion Hollingsworth was named to the All-C-USA Preseason Team for the third straight year. Hollingsworth crossed 1,500 points for his career in the win over Northern Iowa and is the nation's active leader in consecutive starts with 103 – every game of his college career.

• Charles Bassey was named a Preseason Second-Team All-American by Lindy's as he returns from a tibial plateau fracture in his left leg that ended his 2019-20 season after 10 games. Bassey, the nation's active career rebounding average leader entering the season, is on the watch list for the Naismith Trophy Player of the Year award.

LAST GAME AGAINST MEMPHIS: DECEMBER 4, 2010

The Hilltoppers shot just 31.4 percent and committed 20 turnovers in a loss at nationally-ranked Memphis.

Sergio Kerusch paced WKU with 16 points and eight rebounds, while Juan Pattillo added six points and 12 rebounds.

Joe Jackson had 15 points for Memphis, which shot 48.3 percent from the field and blocked 12 shots.

PLANET FITNESS

Your 2020-2021 Hilltopper Men's Basketball Season is presented by Planet Fitness - Bowling Green's original Judgement Free Zone.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Charles Bassey

Taveion Hollingsworth