Hilltoppers Return Home to Host UTEP on Thursday

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU men's basketball returns home this week and will host UTEP on Thursday, Feb. 15 at 6 p.m. CT. The Hilltoppers enter the matchup against the Miners standing at 17-7 overall and 6-4 in Conference USA league play.

Game Info
WKU (17-7, 6-4) vs. UTEP (13-11, 4-5)
Thursday, Feb. 15 | 6 p.m. CT
E.A. Diddle Arena | Bowling Green, Ky.
Game Links: CBS Sports Network | 100.7-FM (WKLX)/Varsity Network | Live Stats

Series History
Thursday will mark the 11th meeting between WKU and UTEP in a series dating back to 1969, with the Tops holding an 8-2 all-time advantage facing the Miners. WKU fell to UTEP, 93-87, on the road in El Paso earlier this season.

Overall: 8-2, WKU
Series began: Dec. 19, 1969
H: 4-0 • A: 3-2 • N: 1-0

Last 5
02/02/19         Bowling Green, Ky.       W, 76-59
02/13/20         El Paso, Texas.              W, 67-62
02/04/23         Bowling Green, Ky.       W, 74-69
03/02/23         El Paso, Texas.              W, 73-68
01/20/24         El Paso, Texas               L, 87-93

The Game at a Glance
Hilltopper Basketball (17-7, 6-4) hosts UTEP on Thursday, Feb. 15 at 6 p.m. CT for its second outing of the season facing the Miners. WKU enters the matchup coming off a 2-0 road swing last week that saw victories over CUSA leader LA Tech and Jax State, marking the first time this season a CUSA team has secured back-to-back conference victories on the road.

The Tops currently chart a 10-1 overall record playing at home in Diddle Arena this season. Thursday's game will see WKU welcome UTEP to Diddle for a rematch having previously fallen to the Miners, 93-87, on the road in El Paso. UTEP will be seeking its first road win of the season, as seven of the Miners' 11 losses this year have come on the road.

Thursday's game will feature two of the conference's top scorers in Don McHenry and Tae Hardy. Hardy (15.3 PPG) currently charts as the fourth-leading scorer in CUSA, while McHenry (16.0 PPG) currently stands at second in scoring in the league.

McHenry earned a second CUSA Player of the Week nod on Monday following the Tops' pair of road victories last week. The junior guard finished with 20 points off 7-for-13 shooting from the field and 6-of-6 free throws with six rebounds, three assists and two steals against LA Tech, then followed the performance with 24 points off 9-for-18 shooting and another 4-of-4 mark from the stripe facing Jax State.

Where The Tops Stack Up
WKU currently holds a 6-4 mark in the CUSA standings and a 17-7 overall record. The Tops boast the top-scoring offense in the conference (80.3 PPG) and chart 46^th in the nation in scoring. WKU has totaled 80 or more points in 12 games this season, and 90 or more points in five games.

The Hilltoppers rank first in the nation in adjusted tempo, currently averaging 75.5 possessions per 40 minutes. The Tops chart as the top rebounding team in CUSA and rank 22^nd nationally in rebounds with 40.12 per game. WKU is 20^th in the nation in three-point percentage defense, limiting teams to a 29.8% mark from range, and 35^th in the nation in bench points per game (27.33).

In addition to McHenry leading the Hilltoppers in points and charting as the CUSA's second-leading scorer, the junior guard from Milwaukee is also leading the team in assists (63 total) and ranks 12th in CUSA with 2.6 per contest. McHenry currently holds the third-best field-goal percentage in CUSA with a .465% mark from the field and is connecting on .854% (70-of-82) of attempts at the charity stripe, good for third best in CUSA.

Starting all 24 outings for the Hilltoppers in 2023-24, McHenry leads the team in average minutes with 27.4 minutes per contest. McHenry has notched 21 steals on the year, good for third best on the team.

Tyrone Marshall Jr. ranks seventh in the conference in blocks (27) and fifth in steals (39). Brandon Newman is currently the eighth-leading rebounder in CUSA with 143 total for the year and 5.2 per game.

Tops' Promotions
Thursday will serve as Hilltopper Basketball's 'Better Late Than Never' Valentine's Day game and Teacher Appreciation Night. The first 200 fans in the door will also receive free silicon wine cups, and WKU's 'Coming Home King' will be crowned at halftime of the game.

MORE INFO

Nationally Televised Tops
The Hilltoppers' game against UTEP will be nationally televised live on CBS Sports Network with Jeff Hem and Mo Cassara 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.

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.

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Players Mentioned

Tyrone Marshall Jr.

Don McHenry

Brandon Newman