The Hilltoppers fall to 11-9 overall and 4-5 in Conference USA play.
HOW ITÂ HAPPENED
- Sam Houston jumped out to a 6-2 lead at the first media timeout with 15:58 remaining in the first half. Grant Newell provided WKU's lone basket in the early minutes, knocking down a midrange jumper. The Hilltoppers committed four turnovers during the stretch.
- Offensive struggles continued for WKU over the next 10 minutes as the Bearkats stretched their advantage to 20-10. The Hilltoppers managed just two field goals — a Leeroy Odiahi dunk and an LJ Hackman 3-pointer — along with three combined free throws from Hackman and Terrion Murdix.
- Murdix sparked WKU's offense late in the half, scoring seven points on a 3-pointer and four free throws. Newell added a pair of free throws and Odiahi contributed a late basket as the Hilltoppers went into halftime trailing 38-21.
- Sam Houston opened the second half with a 10-0 run before WKU answered with an 8-0 surge of its own. Grant Newell scored a layup, followed by Ryan Myers, who buried a 3-pointer and converted an and-one at the rim. The Hilltoppers trimmed the deficit to 48-29 with 14:56 left to play.
- In the final 12 minutes, LJ Hackman and Leeroy Odiahi paced the WKU offense, combining for 16 points. Kade Unseld and Cade Stinnett each added a 3-pointer, but the Bearkats maintained control throughout, preserving their double-digit cushion and closing out a 73-58 victory.
NOTABLES
- WKU falls to 11-9 overall, 4-5 in Conference USA play and 2-4 all-time against Sam Houston.
- Today's starting five featured Terrion Murdix, Ryan Myers, LJ Hackman, Grant Newell and Noah Boyde.
- Three Hilltoppers scored in double figures. Hackman led WKU with 14 points, while Leeroy Odiahi added a career-high 10 and Grant Newell chipped in 10 of his own.
- Hackman paced the Hilltoppers with 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. He also collected four rebounds, two assists and a steal in 24 minutes.
- Odiahi went a perfect 5-of-5 from the field to finish with 10 points, three rebounds and a steal in 25 minutes.
- Newell recorded 10 points and six rebounds, converting all four of his free throw attempts and adding a block in 33 minutes.
- Myers scored nine points on 3-of-6 shooting, hitting two 3-pointers and grabbing four rebounds in 22 minutes.
- Terrion Murdix added nine points on a perfect 6-of-6 effort from the free throw line and a 3-pointer, along with a steal in 17 minutes.
NEXT UP
- WKU continues its three-game road swing on Wednesday, Jan. 28, at Kennesaw State. Tipoff inside the KSU Convocation Center is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT. The game will stream live on ESPN+.
