BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU men's basketball returns home for its final week of regular-season action hosting Conference USA opponent FIU on Thursday, March 6. Tipoff from E.A. Diddle Arena in Bowling Green, Ky. is slated for 7 p.m. CT with the game set to stream live on ESPN+.
The Hilltoppers enter the matchup facing the Panthers standing at 16-13 overall with a 7-9 record in CUSA play and coming off a split in the team's final pair of regular-season road matchups last week, defeating UTEP, 80-73, on the road in El Paso, then falling at New Mexico State, 65-47, in Las Cruces. Tyrone Marshall Jr. led the Tops in the scoring column for both games, posting 16 points in each contest while averaging six rebounds.
FIU enters the game at 9-20 overall with a 3-13 conference record and coming off an 84-79 double-overtime loss facing Jax State at home last time out. Jonathan Aybar led the Panthers' scoring effort with 19 points while adding six rebounds, a game-high three blocks and a pair of steals.
GAME INFO
WKU (16-13, 7-9 CUSA) vs. FIU (9-20, 3-13 CUSA)
Thursday, March 6 | 7 p.m. CT
E.A. Diddle Arena | Bowling Green, Ky.
Watch:Â ESPN+Â (Tyler Eaton & Dean Cooper)
Listen: Hilltopper Sports Radio Network | 100.7-FM (WKLX)/Varsity Network (Randy Lee & Hal Schmitt)
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats | StatBroadcast
Tickets: $8 Ticket Promo | WKUTickets.com | 1-800-5-BIG RED
Game Notes:Â Media Center
ABOUT THE TOPS
- WKU currently ranks third in CUSA in scoring at 75.8 points per gameÂ
- WKU holds a 12-4 record at home this season with a 4-3 home record in league playÂ
- WKU is currently 10th in the nation in adjusted tempo with an average of 72.3 possessions per 40 minutes
- WKU ranks 12th in the nation in defensive rebounding with 28.03 per contest
- The Tops rank 49th in the nation in steals with 8.2 per contest and a total of 237 on the year
- WKU ranks 39th in the nation in FG% defense, limiting opponents to a .409% clip shooting from the field
- Don McHenry leads the Hilltoppers and ranks sixth in CUSA for scoring at 17.2 points per contest;Â McHenry's 43 steals (1.5/G) are eighth most in CUSA
- McHenry holds the conference's eighth-best FG% (min # attempts) at .406%
- McHenry touts the third-highest free throw percentage in CUSA with a .836% (107-of-128) mark from the stripe
- McHenry's 57 made three-pointers are 11th most in CUSA
- Khristian Lander ranks 19th in CUSA in scoring with 11.6 points per contest
- Lander has posted double figures in seven of nine contests and 15 total contests on the season
- Tyrone Marshall Jr. leads WKU and ranks second in CUSA in defensive rebounding with 159 (5.5/G) on the year, good for 84th most in the nation; the graduate forward also leads the team and charts eighth in the league in total rebounds with 186 (6.4/G) on the year
- Marshall Jr. charts second on the team and 16th in CUSA in total blocks with 19 on the year; Marshall Jr. also charts 14th in the league in steals with 36 total on the yearÂ
- Leeroy Odiahi leads WKU and ranks 11th in CUSA in total blocks with 25 on the year
- Braxton Bayless leads WKU and ranks 18th in CUSA in assists with a total of 63 (2.2/G) on the year
- Jalen Jackson ranks second on the team and 20th in CUSA in assists with a total of 62 (2.1/G) on the year
- Jackson's 35 steals are good for 16th most in CUSA
SERIES INFORMATION
WKU holds a 40-13 all-time advantage in meetings facing FIU in a series dating back to 1999. The Tops hold a 20-4 record against the Panthers in home games at Diddle Arena. WKU previously fell to FIU, 85-66, earlier in the season on Jan. 4 on the road in Miami. Last season saw the Hilltoppers post a split in competition with FIU, securing a 105-91 win at home in Diddle Arena on Jan. 25, then falling on the road, 85-83, on March 2.
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS
- FIU enters Thursday's game at 9-20 overall with a 3-13 mark in CUSA after falling to Jax State, 84-79, in double overtime last Saturday
- Jonathan Aybar led the Panthers' effort with 19 points, six rebounds, a game-high three blocks and a pair of steals
- Aybar leads FIU and ranks 21st in CUSA for rebounding with 135 total and 5.0 per game
- Junior guard Jayden Brewer leads the team and ranks eighth in CUSA in scoring with 14.3 points per game
- Brewer currently ranks 22nd in CUSA for rebounding with 134 total and 5.0 per gameÂ
- Junior big Vianney Salatchoum leads the team and ranks second in CUSA in blocks with 53 on the year and 2.0 per contestÂ
- Ashton Williamson leads the team and ranks 14th in CUSA in assists with 78 total and 2.7 per contest
- Junior guard Asim Jones ranks second on the team and 16th in CUSA in assists with 71 on the year and 2.4 per contest
- Jones currently charts the 11th-highest free-throw percentage in CUSA with a .761% (89-of-117) mark
- FIU leads the league in blocks with an average of 4.83 per game and 140 total for the year
- The Panthers rank second in the league in steals with an average of 9.24 per game and 268 for the year
AT THE GAME
Thursday will be 80's Night at Diddle Arena featuring 80's themed music, trivia and other in-game content. 4,000 free glow sticks will also be given out to fans at the game. WKU Athletics announced an $8 ticket promo for the game in-keeping with the 1980's "throwback" theme. Tickets can be purchased here or using the promo code '80SNIGHT' at checkout.
Follow the team on social media (@wkubasketball) and visit wkusports.com for the latest news and updates on all things Hilltopper Basketball as the team continues its 2024-25 campaign.
