| Game 17 vs. FIU Saturday, January 14 | 6 p.m. CT | Bowling Green, Ky. Season presented by Med Center Health |
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| Records | WKU (10-6, 2-3 C-USA) • FIU (8-8, 2-3 C-USA) | ||||
| Listen | Hilltopper Sports Network (WKLX 100.7 FM flagship); C-USA.tv Audio; Varsity Network Randy Lee (pxp) | Hal Schmitt (analysis) |
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| Watch | ESPN+ | WKU PBS Nate Gatter (pxp) | Jay Walton (analysis) | Lexi Schweinert (sideline) |
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| Live Stats | WKU MBB Stats | ||||
| Tickets | WKU Tickets | ||||
| Game Notes | WKU Game Notes | ||||
| Most Recent Media | Interim HC Phil Cunningham Preview Media | Frampton/McKnight Media | ||||
| Social Media | @WKUBasketball  | @WKUBasketball  | Facebook  | YouTube  |
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BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — WKU Hilltopper Basketball is looking to keep the momentum of a two-game win streak rolling into its two-game homestand. The Hilltoppers will first take on FIU on Saturday night at 6 p.m. CT. The game will stream on ESPN+.
WKU most recently beat league favorite UAB on the road 80-78 on Wednesday night. The FIU Panthers lost to Florida Atlantic in a 77-73 overtime battle.
The Tops lead the all-time series 36-10 over FIU, including a 17-4 mark in E.A. Diddle Arena. WKU is 6-3 over the Panthers in the Stansbury era.
PROMOTIONS
- Hall of Fame Game: The 1953-54 men's basketball team will be honored at halftime as a member of the inaugural class of WKU Athletics Hall of Fame teams.
- Big Red Rascals Night: Big Red Rascals members receive free admission
- Presented by Med Center Health
WKU VS. FIU SERIES BREAKDOWN
Overall History: WKU leads 36-10
Series Record in Bowling Green: WKU leads 17-4
Last Meeting: FIU 86, WKU 83 | January 22, 2022 | Miami, Fla.
An early double-digit deficit and clutch shooting from FIU proved to be too much for WKU Hilltopper Basketball to overcome in an 86-83 road loss.
The Panthers made 16 of 35 3-pointers, including two huge ones in the final minute, the final make breaking an 83-all tie and sending WKU to its third straight loss.
The Hilltoppers fell behind 38-20 in the first half, but finished the frame on an 18-4 run, largely behind the bench boost from fifth-year senior guard Josh Anderson. His 3 with three seconds left cut FIU's lead to 42-38 at the break.
WKU couldn't continue the run out of halftime, and the Panthers eventually extended their lead to 78-66 with 6:03 to go. The Tops dug in with a 13-0 run, capped with three straight 3s.
After back-to-back 3-pointers from graduate senior guard Camron Justice, senior forward Jairus Hamilton hit another from the top of the key to give WKU its first lead of the game at 79-78 with 2:05 remaining.
Sophomore guard Dayvion McKnight again gave WKU the lead at 81-80 with 1:15 to play, but FIU's Javaunte Hawkins hit a deep 3 to put his team up two again.
McKnight tied it one last time with a pair of free throws before Eric Lovett hit the winning 3 with 12 seconds to go.
Anderson led WKU with 23 points and four steals off the bench, while McKnight added 19 points, six assists, four rebounds and two steals. Junior center Jamarion Sharp also reached double figures with 11 points and six rebounds.
Tevin Brewer paced FIU with 23 points and eight assists.
TOP STORYLINES
- Over the last eight games, Dayvion McKnight is averaging 23.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game while shooting 51.5% (70-136) from the field and 81.3% (39-48) from the charity stripe. He's scored 25 points or more in 5 of those 8 games.
- Head coach Rick Stansbury has missed the last five games, all in conference play, due to health issues. Associate head coach Phil Cunningham stepped in the interim as he did before in 2021.
- WKU taken its three conference losses by a total of 12 points. The Hilltoppers are outscoring opponents 157-127 in the first half but being outscored 201-231 in the second.
- As of Friday, Jamarion Sharp leads the country in total blocks (70) and blocks per game (4.4). Luke Frampton is sixth in 3-point percentage at 48.8%.
- In WKU's win over Wright State, Dayvion McKnight became the ninth player in college basketball since 2010-11 to log at least his stat line or better: 32 points, three assists, four steals, four rebounds and 76% FG.
- Dayvion McKnight became the first Hilltopper since 2000 to log seven steals when he did so at Austin Peay on Nov. 30.
- With 13 blocks against Indianapolis on Nov. 15, the Hilltoppers broke the program's record for blocks in a single game.
- In WKU's 127-61 rout of Kentucky State on Nov. 12, the team broke numerous 3-point shooting records for both the program and in NCAA DI history.
MED CENTER HEALTH
The 2022-23 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.
