| Game 1 vs. Alabama State Tuesday, Nov. 9Â | 7 p.m. CT | E.A. Diddle Arena Presented by GeMonee Brown |
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| Records |  WKU (0-0) • Alabama State (0-0) | ||||
| Listen | Â Randy Lee (play-by-play) | Hal Schmitt (analysis) Â Hilltopper Sports Network (WKLX 100.7 FM flagship); C-USA.tv Audio; Varsity Network; The Hill at Home |
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| Watch |  Jeff Greer (play-by-play) | Tim Scarborough (analysis)  ESPN+; WKU PBS (locally in Bowling Green) |
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| Live Stats | Â WKU Stats | ||||
| Tickets | Â Single-Game Tickets | Season Ticket Request Form | ||||
| Promotions | Â Military Appreciation Night: $5 off tickets with military ID | ||||
| Game Notes | Â WKU Game Notes | Alabama State Game Notes | ||||
| Pregame Video | Â Coach Stansbury | Butz/McKnight | ||||
| Social Media | Â @WKUBasketball  | @WKUBasketball  | Facebook  | YouTube  |
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BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — WKU Hilltopper Basketball opens the 2021-22 regular season Tuesday against Alabama State at 7 p.m. CT at E.A. Diddle Arena. The game will stream on ESPN+ and air locally in Bowling Green on WKU PBS.
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WKU prepped in the preseason with a pair of exhibition victories over Campbellsville and the University of the Cumberlands. Alabama State beat Mobile 72-47 in its lone exhibition game.
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The Hilltoppers are 3-0 all-time against Alabama State, most recently winning 79-66 in 2016. Head coach Rick Stansbury is 4-0 in his career against the Hornets.
TOP STORYLINES
• WKU is 70-32 all-time in season openers, including a 93-87 win over Northern Iowa last year. The Hilltoppers have won 15 of their last 17 home openers and are 83-19 all-time in the season's first home game.
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• WKU returns just 30% of its scoring, 26% of rebounding, 44% of assists and 19% of blocks from 2020-21.
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• Josh Anderson was named a C-USA Preseason All-Conference honoree for the first time in his career. Anderson could become the first player in Hilltopper history to earn five letters with the program.
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• Transfer forward Jairus Hamilton averaged 20.5 points and 12.5 rebounds in the exhibition wins while also going a combined 9 of 12 from 3-point range. Hamilton shot 43% from 3 last year at Maryland.
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• WKU junior center Jamarion Sharp is the tallest player in college basketball at 7 feet, 5 inches. Sharp had 14 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in his Hilltopper debut vs. Campbellsville.Â
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• The HIlltoppers were picked third in the preseason Conference USA poll, behind West Division foes UAB and Louisiana Tech. This is the first time since 2017-18 that WKU hasn't been picked to win the league.
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• WKU's 88 wins over the last four years are the most in Conference USA. The Hilltoppers are one of 14 programs in the nation to have won at least 20 games in each of the last four seasons, and one of 18 schools in the nation to appear in their league's last three championship games.
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LAST GAME AGAINST ALABAMA STATE: NOVEMBER 12, 2016
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Que Johnson led the Hilltoppers with 16 points and WKU picked up the victory in Rick Stansbury's first game as head coach of the program.
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Pancake Thomas added 15 points, while Justin Johnson and Junior Lomomba each scored nine points.
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Rodney Simeon paced Alabama State with 25 points and seven made 3s.
MED CENTER HEALTH
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The 2021-22 WKU Basketball season is proudly presented by Med Center Health. Med Center Health has served Southcentral Kentucky for more than 90 years, and its system of care includes six acute care hospitals, a comprehensive network of physician practices and clinics, and hundreds of area physicians offering care in dozens of specialties. From emergency treatment to preventative care, Med Center Health is dedicated to improving the quality of life in the communities it serves. Learn more at medcenterhealth.org.
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