GAME INFO
- Louisiana Tech (8-5, 1-1 CUSA) at WKU (8-5, 1-1 CUSA)
- Sunday, Jan. 4 | 2:00 p.m. CT | E.A. Diddle Arena | Bowling Green, Ky.
- Watch: ESPN+ (PxP: Tyler Eaton | Analyst: Hal Schmitt)
- Listen: The Varsity Network (PxP: Randy Lee | Analyst: Jim Pickens)
- Live Stats: Sidearm | StatBroadcast
- Social: @WKUBasketball | @WKUSports
- Game Notes: WKU | Louisiana Tech
AT THE GAME
- Celebrate the new year inside E.A. Diddle Arena with a special offer. Pick any two seats in Diddle Arena for just $20.26. Fans can enjoy over 50% in savings on lower bowl tickets. Purchase tickets to the WKU vs. Louisiana Tech game HERE.
- The ticket booths at E.A. Diddle Arena will be open prior to doors opening. Doors will open 90 minutes prior to tipoff for the public.
- Sunday's game theme is Wrestling Night — enjoy wrestling-themed music, content and promotions all game long as we bring the energy of the ring to Diddle Arena!
- Schedule cards, posters and roster cards will be available at the marketing table near the entrance while supplies last.
- WKU Athletics offers a kids' corner in Diddle Arena, an area for kids to enjoy. This area includes bean bag tic-tac-toe, inflatable axe throwing and more. The kids' corner is located on the upstairs concourse by the concessions stand.
- After the game, stick around for postgame fist bumps from the WKU Hilltopper Basketball team and listen to the live postgame interview with Mahurin Family Foundation Head Coach Hank Plona.
- The full 2025-26 WKU Hilltopper Basketball promotional schedule can be found HERE.
- Want to make your gameday special? Check out our Hilltopper Highlights premium fan experiences for basketball season, including videoboard messages, Big Red visits, fan tunnels and more! Check out our Hilltopper Highlights HERE. Purchase WKU Hilltopper Basketball experiences HERE.
- For the full WKU Basketball Gameday Information page, click HERE.
- For the full WKU Basketball Winter Sports Yearbook, click HERE.
ABOUT THE TOPS
- WKU Hilltopper Basketball erupted for 60 second-half points to storm past Sam Houston 102-91 in its Conference USA home opener Friday night at E.A. Diddle Arena. The Hilltoppers rallied from an early 14-point deficit and a seven-point halftime hole, riding a career-high 28 points from Teagan Moore and double-digit efforts from Ryan Myers (18), Armelo Boone (16 points, 13 rebounds) and Grant Newell (12). WKU owned the glass and turned 49 rebounds into a season-best 33 second-chance points, securing its first CUSA victory of the season and evening its league record at 1-1.
- Through 13 games, WKU has established itself as one of the nation's premier free throw teams, tying for 10th nationally with 20.5 made free throws per game and 11th nationally with 27.8 attempts. The Hilltoppers have earned at least 21 attempts in every contest, including three games with 30 or more against Tennessee Tech, Tennessee State and Vanderbilt, plus a season-high 41 attempts versus Bethel (Tenn.). They've converted at least 17 free throws in 11 of 13 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 early in the season, as WKU averages 37.4 bench points per game to rank 12th nationally and first in CUSA. The Hilltopper reserves have provided a consistent scoring punch, surpassing 40 bench points five times, including 56 against Bethel, 54 against Evansville and 46 in each of the Tennessee Tech and Campbellsville games.
- Freshman guard Armelo Boone has earned a league-high four CUSA Freshman of the Week selections this season. After combining for just eight points in two games against Evansville and Marshall, Boone has bounced back in a big way, averaging 17.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals over the last four games against Campbellsville, Tulsa, Jax State and Sam Houston. He's shot 43.5% (27-of-62) from the field and 75.0% (9-of-12) at the free throw line. Against the Bearkats, Boone turned in his second double-double of the season with 16 points and a career-high 13 rebounds, anchoring WKU's effort on the glass. He went 6-of-16 from the field and 3-of-5 at the free throw line while also contributing two assists and two blocks in 29 minutes. It marked his 10th double-figure outing of the season. Through 13 games this season, he's averaging 12.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.7 steals while shooting 41.7% from the field and 73.0% from the line.
- Redshirt sophomore guard Teagan Moore has been a driving force behind WKU's 8-5 start, pacing the Hilltoppers with 18.2 points and 5.9 rebounds per game while reaching double figures in 12 of 13 contests. He delivered a career outing in Friday's win over Sam Houston, pouring in a career-high 28 points and knocking down a personal-best three 3-pointers. Moore went 9-of-18 from the field and 3-of-8 from beyond the arc — matching career highs in both makes and attempts — while adding a 7-of-10 effort at the stripe, six rebounds, three assists and a steal in 35 minutes for his fifth 20-point outing of the season. The Dry Ridge, Kentucky, native ranks fifth in CUSA in scoring after missing all of last season due to injury and was a CUSA All-Freshman Team selection in 2023-24.
- Graduate guard Ryan Myers has become a reliable scoring option for WKU over the past month. In the last eight games, he's averaging 13.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 22.8 minutes per contest while shooting 45.2% (33-of-73) from the field and an impressive 55.1% (27-of-49) from 3-point range. That marks a major leap from his first five outings, when he averaged 4.8 points on 24.0% shooting and 16.7% from beyond the arc in 17.8 minutes per game. Myers delivered a breakout performance against Evansville with 27 points off the bench — one shy of his career high — matching his career best with seven made 3-pointers while going 9-of-16 from the field in a season-high 31 minutes. In Friday's win over Sam Houston, Myers provided efficient perimeter scoring with 18 points in just 18 minutes, hitting 5-of-8 from the floor and 4-of-7 from 3-point range. He was perfect at the stripe at 4-of-4 and chipped in three assists.
- Senior forward Grant Newell has provided a steady two-way presence for WKU in the frontcourt, averaging 11.5 points and 4.2 rebounds while starting all 13 games this season. Newell has scored in double figures eight times, highlighted by a career-high 28-point performance against Tulsa in which he went 8-of-15 from the field and 6-of-8 from 3-point range.
QUOTABLE
- "I know they've been an elite defensive team and they've struggled on offense this year. I think that's what clearly stands out. I think, style wise, they're big, they're strong. We're familiar with some of their players. They've struggled to shoot. They've struggled to score a little bit. They've been an elite defensive team. I don't know how they have been. I haven't watched it. So, we'll get on that right away and it would be a great first homestand if we're able to play well on Sunday and get a win." — Mahurin Family Foundation Head Coach Hank Plona, on Sunday's game against Louisiana Tech.
SERIES INFORMATION
- Sunday will mark the 47th meeting all-time between WKU and Louisiana Tech. The programs have met at least once every season since the Hilltoppers joined Conference USA in 2014-15.
- The all-time series is tied, 23-23. WKU and Louisiana Tech split two meetings last season with both teams winning at home. The Bulldogs won the first meeting last season in Ruston, Louisiana, 77-67, while WKU took the game in Bowling Green, 64-63.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
- Louisiana Tech enters Sunday's game with an 8-5 overall record and a 1-1 mark in Conference USA play after an 88-51 loss to Middle Tennessee on Jan. 2. The Bulldogs earned a 75-63 home win over UTEP in their CUSA opener on Dec. 29.
- Louisiana Tech is led by head coach Talvin Hester, who is in his fourth season at the helm. He owns a 65-45 career record with the Bulldogs.
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.
