Hilltoppers Host Sam Houston at Diddle on Thursday

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Hilltopper Basketball returns to action in Diddle Arena this week and will host Sam Houston on Thursday, Feb. 1 at 8 p.m. CT. Currently standing at 14-6 overall and 3-3 in Conference USA league play, WKU enters the matchup facing the Bearkats with an unbeaten 9-0 record at home this season.

Game Info
WKU (14-6, 3-3) vs. Sam Houston (12-9, 5-1)
Thursday, Feb. 1 | 8 p.m. CT
E.A. Diddle Arena | Bowling Green, Ky.
Game Links: CBS Sports Network | 100.7-FM (WKLX)/Varsity Network | Live Stats | Tickets

Series History
Thursday will mark the second all-time meeting between WKU and CUSA newcomer Sam Houston. The Hilltoppers fell to the Bearkats, 78-74, earlier this season in the teams' first-ever meeting on Jan. 10. The loss to Sam Houston snapped an eight-game winning streak by the Tops that dated back to Nov. 29.

2023-24 Conference Campaign
WKU enters the rematch with Sam Houston coming off a 105-91 win over FIU last week that saw five Hilltoppers chart in double figures. Dontaie Allen led the team in scoring with a career-best 30 points off 9-for-11 shooting from the field and 5-for-7 from beyond the arc.

Where The Tops Stack Up
WKU charts the top-scoring offense in the CUSA and 47^th in the nation at 80.6 PPG. The Tops have totaled 80 or more points in 10 games this season, and 90 or more points in five games this season.

The Hilltoppers currently rank first in the nation in adjusted tempo with an average of 75.8 possessions per 40 minutes of play.

The Hilltoppers currently chart as the top rebounding team in the CUSA and rank 27^th nationally in rebounding with an average of 40.5 per game. The team ranks 48^th in the nation in three-point percentage defense, limiting opponents to a 30.6% mark from range.

WKU currently ranks 41^st in the nation in bench points per game (27.00) and 42^nd in the nation in forced turnovers per game (14.80).

Don McHenry charts as the fifth-leading scorer in CUSA with 14.8 points per contest. The junior native of Milwaukee holds the league's fourth-highest FG% (.450%) and fourth-best FT% (.846%).

McHenry ranks first on the team in scoring, assists (2.9/G) FG% and FT%.

Tyrone Marshall Jr. ranks fourth in the conference in blocks and sixth in steals, while leading the team in both categories. Brandon Newman and Babacar Faye both chart top-10 in the conference for rebounding with 126 and 113 total rebounds on the season respectively.

Nationally Televised Tops
The Hilltoppers' game against Sam Houston will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network with Dave Ryan and Tim Doyle on the call. Fans can tune in live and listen on 100.7-FM (WKLX) or The Varsity Network mobile app as Hal Schmitt and Randy Lee call the game on radio.

Events and Promotions
Thursday will serve as Black History Night for Hilltopper Basketball, with the team wearing black "End Racism" shooting shirts in honor of Black History Month.

Head coach Steve Lutz will be covering the first round of concessions for the first 1,000 students in the door on Thursday night. Students will be able to pick up a voucher from the marketing table at the top of the student ramp to redeem for a hot dog and a beverage.

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

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Dontaie Allen

Babacar Faye

Tyrone Marshall Jr.

Don McHenry

Brandon Newman