Tops Host Rhode Island in Nationally Televised Game Sunday

Sunday, December 13

E.A. Diddle Arena

11 a.m.

Western Kentucky University

Rhode Island

12/12/2020 12:03:00 PM | Men's Basketball

WKU Game Notes | Rhode Island Game Notes

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — WKU Hilltopper Basketball will play its third straight home game against Rhode Island at 11 a.m. CT Sunday at E.A. Diddle Arena. The game will air on CBS Sports Network.

The Hilltoppers won their second straight on their home court Thursday with an 86-84 victory over Gardner-Webb. Rhode Island fell 73-62 at No. 13 Wisconsin on Wednesday, but is ranked 31st in the country in strength of schedule by Ken Pomeroy.

Rhode Island won the only meeting in the series last year on its court, 86-82 in overtime. It was WKU's first game after the season-ending injury to Charles Bassey.

GAME 7

Rhode Island (3-3) at WKU (4-2)
December 13, 2020 | 11 a.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 (Ryan Burr, pxp | Mike O'Donnell, analysis)

Live Stats: WKU Stats

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 (wkusports.com/MBBSecondScreen) and will be live 30 minutes prior to tipoff.

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

TOP STORYLINES

• As of Friday, WKU was one of only 43 programs in the nation to have played at least six games so far this season. That represents just 12% of Division I teams.

• As of Friday, Charles Bassey leads the nation with 23 total blocks and 70 total rebounds. He also ranks second in double-doubles (4), fourth in blocks per game (3.83), seventh in total field goals made (44), eighth in rebounds per game (11.7) and 11th in defensive rebounds per game (8.7). Only 30 programs in the nation have more blocks as a team than Bassey by himself.

• As a team, WKU ranks 10th nationally in total blocks (29), 14th in total rebounds (239), 20th in free throws made (93) and 30th in free-throw attempts (124).

• In the last two games, WKU has 41 total assists against just 18 turnovers. It's the first time the Hilltoppers have had 20-plus assists in back-to-back games since the 2017-18 season.

• WKU is averaging 25.7 bench points per game. Last season, WKU averaged 11.8 bench points per game. Its 50 bench points in Sunday's win over Mississippi Valley State were the program's most since getting 53 points from the reserves against North Texas on Jan. 16, 2016.

• The Hilltoppers are tied for second in the country with 27 dunks this season. Charles Bassey leads the nation with 19 dunks this year – six more than the next closest player, Purdue's Zach Edey.

LAST GAME AGAINST RHODE ISLAND: DECEMBER 21, 2019

WKU showed plenty of fight at Rhode Island, rallying to force overtime before falling 86-82 in a road thriller.

WKU redshirt junior forward Carson Williams' fourth 3-pointer sent the game to overtime, but Rhode Island was able to capitalize on offensive rebounds and costly Hilltopper turnovers to get the victory.

Williams scored a game-high 26 points on 9-of-13 shooting, including a 4-for-4 performance from 3-point range. He also tied his career high with 14 rebounds and blocked three shots.

His final 3-pointer to send the game to overtime capped a late surge in regulation by WKU, which trailed 70-61 with 4:46 to play.

PLANET FITNESS

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