GAME INFO
- WKU (11-8, 4-4 CUSA) at Sam Houston (12-7, 4-4 CUSA)
- Saturday, Jan. 24 | 1:00 p.m. CT | Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum | Huntsville, Texas
- Watch: ESPN+ (PxP: Matt Pederson | Analyst: Jason Barfield)
- Listen: The Varsity Network (PxP: Randy Lee)
- Live Stats: StatBroadcast
- Social: @WKUBasketball | @WKUSports
- Game Notes: WKU | Sam Houston
ABOUT THE TOPS
- WKU Hilltopper Basketball lost to Liberty, 76-69, on Wednesday night inside E.A. Diddle Arena. After trailing 35-32 at the half, the Hilltoppers briefly grabbed a one-point lead early in the second before the Flames used an 18-2 run to take control. WKU battled back to make it a one-possession game in the final minute, but Liberty held on at the free throw line to seal the win. Teagan Moore led the Hilltoppers with 19 points, including three 3-pointers, while Grant Newell added 16, Ryan Myers scored 14 and Armelo Boone posted a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds. The Hilltoppers held statistical advantages in points in the paint, second-chance points, fast-break points and rebounds.
- WKU is among the top rebounding teams in the country, ranking 18th nationally with 41.5 rebounds per game and seventh nationally with 14.5 offensive boards per outing. The Hilltoppers have topped 40 rebounds in 13 of 19 contests this season, including six of eight CUSA games. Through eight league games, WKU paces CUSA with 16.1 offensive rebounds per game while ranking second in the conference with 40.8 rebounds per game.
- Through 19 games, WKU has established itself as one of the nation's premier free throw teams, ranking 19th nationally with 19.3 made free throws on 26.3 attempts per game. The Hilltoppers have earned at least 21 attempts in 18 0f 19 games, including three games with 30 or more against Tennessee Tech, Tennessee State and Vanderbilt, plus a season-high 41 attempts against Bethel (Tenn.). They've converted at least 17 free throws in 14 of 19 outings, highlighted by a season-best 31 makes against Bethel — their most in a game since knocking down 36 against Tennessee State on Dec. 1, 2018.
- Depth has been a major strength for WKU this season, with the Hilltoppers averaging 33.4 bench points per game to tie for 22nd nationally and rank first in CUSA. The WKU reserves have delivered a consistent scoring spark, topping 40 bench points five times, highlighted by 56 against Bethel, 54 against Evansville and 46 in both the Tennessee Tech and Campbellsville contests. The Hilltoppers have posted over 30 bench points in four of their last five outings, totaling 34 at New Mexico State, 37 at UTEP, 33 against Missouri State and 32 against Kennesaw State.
- Redshirt sophomore guard Teagan Moore has been a driving force behind WKU's 11-8 start, leading the Hilltoppers with 17.2 points and adding 5.9 rebounds per game. He has scored in double figures in 16 of 19 contests, reaching 15 or more points in 15 of those games. Moore has produced six outings of 20 points or more this season. Most recently, Moore paced WKU with 19 points against Liberty, going 5-of-8 from the field and 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. The Dry Ridge, Kentucky, native currently ranks fifth in CUSA in scoring after missing all of last season due to injury.
- Freshman guard Armelo Boone has emerged as one of the league's top newcomers, earning a conference-best four CUSA Freshman of the Week honors this season. After totaling just eight points across games against Evansville and Marshall, Boone has responded with a strong 10-game stretch, averaging 12.7 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. In that span, he has recorded double-doubles against Tulsa (16 points, 12 boards), Sam Houston (16 points, 13 boards) and Liberty (13 points, 13 boards), becoming the first WKU freshman with multiple double-doubles in a season since Charles Bassey in 2018-19. Through 19 games, he is averaging 11.8 points, a team-best 6.7 rebounds and 1.5 steals.
QUOTABLE
- "We need to play as good as we can play at Sam Houston on Saturday. That's what we need to do. I want to win at Sam Houston on Saturday with every single thing that we have, and I know our players do too. When we practice, we're going to play basketball in practice, and then hopefully we're a better basketball team on Saturday in the game, because I do know that we have the ability to beat them. We're going to try to play a very good game and get a win at Sam Houston on Saturday." — Mahurin Family Foundation Head Coach Hank Plona, on Saturday's game at Sam Houston.
SERIES INFORMATION
- Saturday will mark the sixth all-time meeting between WKU and Sam Houston. The two programs had not faced each other prior to becoming Conference USA opponents in the 2023-24 season.
- Sam Houston holds a 3-2 edge in the series, though the Hilltoppers claimed the most recent matchup with a 102-91 win on Jan. 2 in Bowling Green.
SCOUTING THE BEARKATS
- Sam Houston enters Saturday's contest with a 12-7 overall record and a 4-4 mark in Conference USA play following a 93-87 victory over Kennesaw State on Jan. 21. Since its earlier matchup with WKU, the Bearkats have gone 4-2 and enter the weekend riding a three-game winning streak.
- Head coach Chris Mudge, now in his third season leading the program, owns a 46-38 career record at Sam Houston.
How to follow WKU Hilltopper Basketball: For complete information on WKU Hilltopper Basketball, visit WKUSports.com or follow the program via social media @WKUBasketball on Instagram and X.
