| Game 14 at Louisiana Tech Saturday, Jan. 1 | 1 p.m. CT | Ruston, La. Season presented by Med Center Health |
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| Records | WKU (8-5, 0-0 C-USA) • Louisiana Tech (10-3, 1-0 C-USA) | ||||
| Listen | Randy Lee (play-by-play) | Hal Schmitt (analysis) Hilltopper Sports Network (WKLX 100.7 FM flagship); C-USA.tv Audio; Varsity Network |
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| Watch | Dave Ryan (play-by-play) | Pete Gillen (analysis) CBS Sports Network |
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| Live Stats | Louisiana Tech Stats | ||||
| Game Notes | WKU Game Notes | Louisiana Tech Game Notes | ||||
| Social Media | @WKUBasketball  | @WKUBasketball  | Facebook  | YouTube  |
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RUSTON, La. — WKU Hilltopper Basketball begins Conference USA play on the road at Louisiana Tech at 1 p.m. CT Saturday in Ruston, La. The game will air nationally on CBS Sports Network.
The Hilltoppers' C-USA opener at Southern Miss on Thursday was postponed due to USM's COVID-19 issues. Their last game was a 95-60 loss at #20/18 Kentucky on Dec. 22. Louisiana Tech opened league play Thursday with a 79-56 blowout home win over Marshall.
WKU is 20-18 all-time against Louisiana Tech, including 6-9 on the road and six straight losses in Ruston dating back to 1998. Rick Stansbury is 7-4 all-time against the Bulldogs.
TOP STORYLINES
• WKU has won 12 of its last 14 conference openers, including five in a row.
• WKU's non-conference slate included six games against teams in the top 100 of Ken Pomeroy's ratings. The team's five losses – four away from home – came against opponents with a combined record of 40-14 and an average KenPom ranking of 58.
• As of Thursday, WKU ranks first in the country in fewest fouls per game (12.2), third in total blocks (86), sixth in blocked shots per game (6.6), 13th in total steals (124), 31st in steals per game (9.5), 40th in total assists (204), 42nd in turnovers forced per game (16.5) and 44th in defensive rebounds per game (28.5).
• WKU junior center Jamarion Sharp is the tallest player in college basketball at 7 feet, 5 inches. He's also the tallest player in the history of the Hilltopper program. Sharp leads the nation in blocks percentage (20.2%), total blocks (65) and blocks per game (5.0).
• Since entering the starting lineup nine games ago, Jamarion Sharp is averaging 10 points, 8.6 rebounds and 6.1 blocks per game while shooting 40 of 52 (76.9%) from the field.
• Sophomore guard Dayvion McKnight is the only player in the country averaging at least 13 points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals per game this season. He ranks seventh in the nation in total assists (81).
• Both Jamarion Sharp and Dayvion McKnight have recorded triple-doubles this season. WKU is the first team since 2017-18 to have two different players record a triple-double in a season.
LAST GAME AGAINST LOUISIANA TECH: MARCH 25, 2021
WKU's season concluded with a 72-65 loss to Louisiana Tech in the NIT Quarterfinals.
The Hilltoppers allowed their conference foe to make 11 of 18 3-pointers, and a late 12-0 run to end the first half proved to be too much to overcome.
WKU led 31-27 with 3:24 left in the first half after a 10-0 run, capped with a 3-pointer from senior guard Taveion Hollingsworth.
But Louisiana Tech finished the half with four straight 3-pointers, using that 12-0 burst to open a 39-31 lead at the break. The Bulldogs made 8 of 12 3-pointers in the first half.
Jordan Rawls tied his career highs with 20 points and five rebounds and set a new career high with eight assists.
MED CENTER HEALTH
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.
