Tops Travel West for Tuesday Matchup Facing Cal Baptist

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Hilltopper Basketball travels to the west coast this week and will face California Baptist on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 9 p.m. CT in CBU Events Center. WKU enters the game riding a five-game winning streak after securing a 65-64 win over Austin Peay at home in Diddle Arena on Saturday to improve to 9-3 on the season.

Game Info
WKU (9-3) vs. Cal Baptist (7-3)
Tuesday, Dec. 19 | 9 p.m. CT
CBU Events Center | Riverside, Calif.
Game Links: ESPN+ | 100.7-FM (WKLX)/Varsity Network | Live Stats | Tickets

The 2023-24 Campaign
WKU improved to nine wins on the season last week with the victory over Austin Peay. The win marked 12 consecutive for the Hilltoppers over the Governors in a series dating back to 1941. WKU now holds a 44-14 all-time advantage facing APSU.

Don McHenry once again shined for the Tops on Saturday, leading the team in the scoring column with 16 points to go with six rebounds, three assists and a steal. Jalen Jackson led in assists with a total of six and accounted for the game-sealing block as time expired.

Rodney Howard led the team in steals with two, while charting 12 points and four rebounds. Brandon Newman tied McHenry for a game-high in rebounds with six, and notched seven points, one assist and a steal.

McHenry Magic
With the 16-point showing in the Tops' win over Austin Peay and a career-high 30 points in the team's 91-84 victory over Wright State on Dec. 12, McHenry was named the CUSA's Player of the Week on Monday. The honor marks the first of the season for the Hilltoppers.

McHenry currently leads the Hilltoppers in average points (15.2) and total assists (30), while charting double-digit point totals in ten of the team's 12 games. The Milwaukee native is currently the CUSA's third-leading scorer.

McHenry touts the team's second-best three-point shooting mark at .361% and has shot .500% or better from the field in nine of the Hilltoppers' 12 games so far this season. The junior guard currently charts a 37-of-43 (.860%) mark from the charity stripe, good for third best on the team (five or more attempts).

Starting all 12 outings for the Hilltoppers in 2023-24, McHenry has impacted games across the board – serving as a strong perimeter point-of-attack defender for the Hilltoppers and grabbing 10 steals on the season (5th most on the team).

Where The Tops Stack Up
WKU is currently tied for the second-best mark in the CUSA and boasts the top-scoring offense in the conference at 82 points per game. The Tops have totaled 80 or more points in six games this season, and 90 or more points in four games this season.

The Hilltoppers chart as the top rebounding team in the CUSA and rank 23^rd in the nation in rebounds. The team ranks 11^th in the nation in three-point defense, currently allowing just 26% for opponents from range, and 25^th in the nation in forced turnovers with 16.27 per game. The Hilltoppers also rank 44^th nationally in bench points with 28.83 points per game.

Series History vs. Cal Baptist
Tuesday will mark the first-ever meeting between WKU and Cal Baptist and just the second matchup against a CUSA opponent for CBU. A victory over the Lancers would move the Tops' win total into double digits at 10.

Tuesday's game against Cal Baptist will stream live on ESPN+ with Braiden Bell and Steven Douglas on the call. Hilltopper fans can tune in live and listen on 100.7-FM (WKLX) or The Varsity Network mobile app as Hal Schmitt and Randy Rosenbloom call the game on radio.

Follow the team on social media (@wkubasketball) for the latest news and updates on all things Hilltopper Basketball. Visit wkusports.com for more information.

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Players Mentioned

Rodney Howard

Jalen Jackson

Don McHenry

Brandon Newman