BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU men's basketball is set to host Louisiana Tech for its final home game of the 2023-24 campaign on Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. CT in Diddle Arena. The Hilltoppers enter the matchup with the Bulldogs standing at 19-8 overall and 8-5 in Conference USA league play.
Game Info
WKU (19-8, 8-5) vs. Louisiana Tech (20-8, 10-3)
Wednesday, Feb. 28 | 7 p.m. CT
E.A. Diddle Arena | Bowling Green, Ky.
Game Links: ESPN+ | 100.7-FM (WKLX)/Varsity Network | Live Stats | Tickets
The Game at a Glance
Saturday will mark the 44th meeting between WKU and LA Tech in a series dating back to 1928. The Tops currently hold a 22-21 all-time advantage facing the Bulldogs after posting an 81-76 road victory over LA Tech earlier this season on Feb. 7. The victory served as the first of two road wins for WKU that marked the first successful two-game road swing for any CUSA team in conference play this season. The Bulldogs enter the game coming off a pair of road wins at UTEP on Feb. 22 and at New Mexico State on Feb. 24 to mark just the second successful two-game road swing in CUSA play this year.
The rematch will see two of the conference's top-scoring offenses go head-to-head, with WKU currently charting first in CUSA for scoring at 80.0 points per game and LA Tech charting third at 74.5 points per game. The game will feature three of the league's top-five scorers in junior guard Don McHenry, as well as LA Tech's Isaiah Crawford and Daniel Batcho. McHenry stands as the third-leading scorer in CUSA with 15.9 points per contest, while Crawford and Batcho rank second and fifth in scoring respectively.
The Hilltoppers enter Wednesday night's game having fallen short against rival Middle Tennessee, 74-72, on the road in Murfreesboro last Saturday. A win would give WKU a 20th victory on the season for the 48th time in the program's history - a mark only six other programs in the nation have achieved.
Series History vs. LA Tech
Series began: March 1, 1928
Overall: 22-21
H: 13-6 • A: 7-11 • N: 2-4
LAST 5
02/07/24… Ruston, La. …W, 81-76
02/23/23… Bowling Green, Ky. …W, 76-66
01/19/23… Ruston, La. …L, 74-85
03/10/22… Frisco, Texas …L, 57-59
01/01/22… Ruston, La. …L, 73-74
Where The Tops Stack Up
→ 8-5 in CUSA standings; 19-8 record overall
→ The Tops boast the top-scoring offense in the conference (80.0 PPG) and chart 44th in the nation in scoring
→ First in the nation in adjusted tempo (75.3 possessions per 40 min)
→ WKU has totaled 80 or more points in 13 games this season, and 90 or more points in six games
→ Top rebounding team in CUSA; 17th nationally in rebounds with 40.2 per game
→ 18th in the nation in three-point percentage defense, limiting teams to a 29.9% mark from range
→ 29th in the nation in bench points per game (27.63)
Top Tops
McHenry leads the Hilltoppers in points and charts as the CUSA's third-leading scorer. The Milwaukee native also leads the team and ranks 12th in CUSA in assists with 70. McHenry currently holds the third-best field-goal percentage in CUSA with a .475% mark from the field and is connecting on .859% (73-of-85) of attempts at the charity stripe, good for second best in CUSA.
Starting all 27 outings for the Hilltoppers in 2023-24, McHenry leads the team in minutes at 27.4 per contest. McHenry has also notched 23 steals on the year, good for third most on the team.
Tyrone Marshall Jr. ranks sixth in the conference in blocks (29) and eighth in steals (41). Brandon Newman leads WKU and ranks ninth in CUSA for rebounding, while Babacar Faye charts second on the team and ranks 10th.
Televised Tops
The Hilltoppers' game against LA Tech will stream live on ESPN+ with Jonathan Matthes and Craig McCormick 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.
Tops' Promotions
Wednesday's matchup against LA Tech will serve as Hilltopper Basketball's 'Diddle After Dark' blackout game. The first 500 students to arrive will receive free black t-shirts, and the first 1,000 students will be given a voucher to redeem for any concession of their choice.
Hilltopper Basketball great Ty Rogers will be recognized during the game for being voted in as one of 12 new members of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame.
The WKU volleyball team will be recognized at the first media timeout of Wednesday's game, and a check will be presented to the 'Hope for Harlie' campaign for the group's continued fight against cancer.
MORE INFO
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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