| Game 28 vs. Louisiana Tech Thursday, February 23 | 8 p.m. CT | Bowling Green, Ky. Season presented by Med Center Health |
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| Records | WKU (14-13, 6-10 C-USA) • Louisiana Tech (13-14, 6-10) | ||||
| 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 | CBS Sports Network Dave Ryan (pxp) | Mike O'Donnell |
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| Live Stats | WKU MBB Stats | ||||
| Tickets | WKU Tickets | ||||
| Game Notes | WKU Game Notes | Louisiana Tech Game Notes | ||||
| Most Recent Media | Coach Preview | Players Preview | ||||
| Social Media | @WKUBasketball  | @WKUBasketball  | Facebook  | YouTube  |
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BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — WKU Hilltopper Basketball is slated to play its final two home games of the season in E.A. Diddle Arena. The Hilltoppers will start off with Louisiana Tech on Thursday night at 8 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on CBS Sports Network.
These two teams met earlier this season as WKU fell in overtime in Ruston. Both teams enter this contest on a loss: WKU at Rice and Louisiana Tech vs. Charlotte.
Louisiana Tech leads the all-time series 21-20, having won the last five meetings. WKU is 7-7 against the Bulldogs in the era of head coach Rick Stansbury.
PROMOTIONS
- Mardi Gras Night x 2022 New Orleans Bowl Celebration
- Giveaway: Free Bowl Champion Mardi Gra beads to the first 500 fans
- Giveaway: Free Bowl Champion posters to the first 1,000 fans
- Photo Op: Take your photo with the 2022 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl Trophy on the second-floor Stansbury concourse
- Big Red Rascals Night: Big Red Rascals members receive free admission
- Game presented by Delta Dental
WKU VS. LOUISIANA TECH SERIES BREAKDOWN
Overall History: Louisiana Tech leads the series 21-20
Series Record in Bowling Green: WKU leads 12-5
Last Meeting: Louisiana Tech 85, WKU 74 Overtime | January 19, 2023 | Ruston, La.
WKU Hilltopper Basketball fell to the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs in overtime 85-74. The two teams only outscored each other by two in either half, but Louisiana Tech used a second wind to shut WKU out of overtime.
The Hilltoppers started cold while the Bulldogs started hot. Louisiana Tech jumped out to a seven-point lead on WKU early.
As WKU warmed up, the Tops knocked down seven of their eight shots in a stretch that included five 3's. In that same stretch, the Hilltoppers went on a 9-0 run between 7:20 and 4:26 to take a 29-25 lead.
Louisiana Tech regained the edge with a few 3-pointers and dunks, but WKU scored the final four points of the half, including a shot just beyond the arc from Jordan Rawls at the buzzer to give the Tops a 37-35 lead at the break.
After starting the first half 3-of-12 from the field, the Hilltoppers closed the half going 11-of-16.
WKU used that late first half momentum to swing into the second half. After LA Tech scored the first bucket, the Hilltoppers rattled off 12 straight, taking a 49-37 lead with just over 16 minutes on the clock.
It was then that the Bulldogs started to chip away at WKU's lead. Louisiana Tech swung a 57-47 Hilltopper lead at 13:34 into a 70-61 Bulldog lead by 5:27. It was a 23-4 run that spanned just over eight minutes.
The Hilltoppers felt the urgency and was able to hold Louisiana Tech to just two field goals in the final five minutes of the game, outscoring the Bulldogs 13-4 to force overtime.
In the extra period, WKU went 0 for 7 and LA Tech went 5 for 7, scoring all 11 points in overtime, securing the victory.
Jamarion Sharp logged the sixth double-double of his career and second of the season with 11 boards and 15 points. He also blocked four shots and added an assist and steal to his stat sheet.
Dayvion McKnight hit 1,000 career points as he scored 12 on the night with eight assists against just three turnovers.
Five Bulldogs were in double figure scoring with Cobe Williams leading the charge. He had 20 points on 7 of 15 shooting.
TOP STORYLINES
- Junior Dayvion McKnight is the only player in the country to have two games this season of at least 32 points, three assists, four rebounds and two steals. His stat lines of that or better came against Wright State on Dec. 10 and Middle Tennessee on Feb. 9.
- In the last five games Dontaie Allen has made 20 3's on 41 attempts, shooting 48.8% from the arc.
- Luke Frampton underwent surgery to repair his right ACL on Jan. 31. He tore that ACL less than three minutes into the game against Charlotte on Jan. 21, ending his collegiate career.
- As of Wednesday, Jamarion Sharp leads the country in total blocks (112) and blocks per game (4.3). His average of 4.3 blocks/game is more than what 84% of Division I teams are averaging. His 112 blocks are more than what 81% of Division I programs have logged as a team.
- After passing former Hilltopper Bobby Jones on WKU's career assists list, Dayvion McKnight officially has more career assists than any other 1,000-point scorer in WKU's history.
- On Jan. 26, Jamarion Sharp was named to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year watch list for the second year in a row.
- In just 50 games as a Hilltopper, Jamarion Sharp broke the program record for blocks in a career, previously held by Jeremy Evans.
- In the last two seasons, Dayvion McKnight has started in all 59 of WKU's contests, scoring at least 10 points in 52 of those.
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.
