Hilltoppers Open Conference USA Action with Weekend Series at Charlotte

WKU Game Notes | Charlotte Game Notes

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — WKU Hilltopper Basketball opens league play with a five-game win streak and a trip to Charlotte for a pair of games starting at 3 p.m. CT Friday. The teams will meet again at 3 p.m. CT Saturday.

Friday's game will air on Stadium, FOX Sports South and WKU PBS, while Saturday's game will air on Stadium and WKU PBS. Both games can be streamed at WatchStadium.com.

WKU closed out non-conference play with an 88-68 home win over Tennessee Tech on Dec. 22. Charlotte edged George Washington 66-65 on the road on Dec. 22.

WKU is 21-11 all-time against Charlotte. Hilltopper head coach Rick Stansbury is 7-3 in his career against the 49ers. WKU has won 11 of its last 13 conference openers, including four straight.

GAMES 10 AND 11

(RV) WKU (7-2, 0-0 C-USA) at Charlotte (4-3, 0-0 C-USA)

January 1, 2021 | 3 p.m. CT
January 2, 2021 | 3 p.m. CT
Halton Arena | Charlotte, N.C.

BROADCAST

Listen: Hilltopper Sports Network (WKLX 100.7 FM flagship), C-USA.tv Audio (free), TuneIn Radio (Randy Lee, pxp | Hal Schmitt, analysis)

Watch: Friday: Stadium; FOX Sports South; WKU PBS (Chris Hassel, pxp |John Giannini, analysis)
Saturday: Stadium; WKU PBS (Chris Hassel, pxp |John Giannini, analysis)

Live Stats: Charlotte Stats

TOP STORYLINES

• The Hilltoppers are off to their best start through nine games since 2012-13.

• WKU has three top-100 KenPom wins so far this season over Memphis (60), Rhode Island (80) and Alabama (55). Its losses came vs. West Virginia (12) on a neutral court and at Louisville (30).

• After making 8 of 29 3-pointers (27.6%) in WKU's first five games, Luke Frampton has made 12 of 19 long-range shots (63.2%) in the Hilltoppers' last four games - all wins. Frampton was named Conference USA Player of the Week on Monday after scoring 22 points and making 6 of 9 3-pointers against Tennessee Tech on Dec. 22.

• In WKU's five-game winning streak, Jordan Rawls has averaged 12.4 points and 24.6 minutes per game. In the first four games, Rawls averaged 3.8 points and 12.8 minutes per contest.

• In WKU's five-game winning streak, Kenny Cooper and Dayvion McKnight have combined for 35 assists and 14 turnovers. Cooper has 14 assists against just three turnovers in that stretch.

• As of Tuesday, Charles Bassey ranks second nationally in blocked shots per game (3.6), fourth in total blocks (29), fifth in total rebounds (91), fifth in double-doubles (5), eighth in total rebounds per game (11.4) and 10th in defensive rebounds per game (8.1). Only 84 programs in the nation have more blocks as a team than Bassey by himself.

LAST GAME AGAINST CHARLOTTE: FEBRUARY 22, 2020

WKU rallied in the second half, but Charlotte made numerous clutch shots in the final minutes to pull out a 72-70 victory at E.A. Diddle Arena.

The 49ers' Jordan Shepherd hit a runner off the glass with two seconds remaining for the game-winner.

Charlotte opened the game with a 6-0 run, led 33-27 at the break and didn't lose the lead until WKU pulled in front 61-60 with 4:07 remaining on a 3-pointer by junior guard Taveion Hollingsworth.

Shepherd finished with 13 points and 10 assists, while Milos Supica led Charlotte with 14 points and seven rebounds.

Carson Williams paced WKU with 18 points, six rebounds and four assists. Hollingsworth added 16 points and five rebounds, and Anderson tallied 15 points.

PLANET FITNESS

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

Hilltoppers Open Conference USA Action with Weekend Series at Charlotte

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Players Mentioned

Charles Bassey

Kenny Cooper

Luke Frampton

Taveion Hollingsworth

Dayvion McKnight

Jordan Rawls

Carson Williams