GAME INFO
- WKU (11-10, 4-6 CUSA) at Middle Tennessee (12-8, 4-5 CUSA)Â
- Saturday, Jan. 31 | 3:00 p.m. CT | Murphy Center | Murfreesboro, Tenn.
- Watch: CBS Sports Network (PxP: Dave Ryan | Analyst: Isis Young)
- Listen: The Varsity Network (PxP: Randy Lee | Analyst: Hal Schmitt)
- Live Stats:Â StatBroadcast
- Social: @WKUBasketball | @WKUSports
- Game Notes:Â WKUÂ |Â Middle Tennessee
ABOUTÂ THEÂ TOPS
- WKU Hilltopper Basketball dropped a hard-fought 72-69 road contest at Kennesaw State on Wednesday night inside the KSU Convocation Center, despite holding a double-digit lead midway through the second half. Trailing 37-36 at the break, the Hilltoppers surged in front after halftime and built a 63-53 advantage with 6:30 remaining behind balanced scoring from six different players before the Owls closed on a 19-6 run to steal the victory. Grant Newell led WKU with 15 points, five rebounds and two blocks off the bench, while Ryan Myers added 12 points and two 3-pointers and LJ Hackman finished with 10 points, four rebounds and three assists. The Hilltoppers owned edges in bench points, second-chance points and points off turnovers.
- WKU is among the top rebounding teams in the country, ranking 19th nationally with 41.2 rebounds per game and seventh nationally with 14.4 offensive boards per outing. The Hilltoppers have topped 40 rebounds in 14 of 21 contests this season, including seven of 10 CUSA games. Through 10 league games, WKU paces CUSA with 40.4 rebounds and 15.5 offensive rebounds per game.
- Through 21 games, WKU has established itself as one of the nation's premier free throw teams, ranking 21st nationally with 19.0 free throws made per game and 24th nationally with 25.7 attempts per game. The Hilltoppers have earned at least 21 attempts in 19 of 21 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 15 of 21 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 32.6 bench points per game to rank first in CUSA and tie for 24th nationally. 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 five of their last seven outings, totaling 34 at New Mexico State, 37 at UTEP, 33 against Missouri State, 32 in the first meeting against Kennesaw State and 35 in the second meeting at Kennesaw State.
- Redshirt sophomore guard Teagan Moore leads the Hilltoppers with 17.2 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. He has scored in double figures in 16 of 19 games played, reaching at least 15 points in 15 of those outings and producing six 20-point performances. 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. Moore has missed the last two games due to a head injury.
- Freshman guard Armelo Boone has emerged as one of the league's top newcomers, tying for 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 contest. 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 played, he is averaging 11.8 points, a team-best 6.7 rebounds and 1.5 steals. Like Moore, Boone has missed the last two games due to an ankle injury.
- WKU has been forced to navigate a difficult stretch of injuries to key contributors this season, reshaping its rotation in both the frontcourt and backcourt. Graduate forward Bryant Selebangue suffered a torn Achilles against Marshall on Dec. 10 and is out for the season, while junior forward Louie Semona has been sidelined with a back injury since the Dec. 19 game against Tulsa. Graduate guard Terrion Murdix missed eight games after sustaining a knee injury on Nov. 27 against South Florida before returning to action on Jan. 8 at New Mexico State. On the perimeter, redshirt sophomore guard Teagan Moore was injured in the final minute of the Liberty game on Jan. 21 and subsequently missed the last two games. Freshman guard Armelo Boone injured his ankle in practice following the Liberty game, sat out the last two games and could potentially return on Saturday at Middle Tennessee.
QUOTABLE
- "I think they're very talented. They don't beat themselves. They've been moving the ball good. They can score at all five positions. There's all the other stuff that goes into that game. So, if our juices aren't flowing for that one, then there's something wrong with us." — Mahurin Family Foundation Head Coach Hank Plona, on the 150th meeting between WKU and Middle Tennessee.
SERIES INFORMATION
- Saturday's matchup marks the 150th meeting all-time between WKU and Middle Tennessee. The Hilltoppers hold a 100-49 lead in the series, which dates back over a century.
- Middle Tennessee claimed both contests in 2024–25, earning a 71-57 victory on Jan. 18 in Murfreesboro, Tenn., and an 87-77 win on Feb. 15 in Bowling Green.
SCOUTING THE BLUE RAIDERS
- Middle Tennessee enters Saturday's contest with an 11-9 overall record and a 5-4 mark in Conference USA play. The Blue Raiders are coming off consecutive losses, falling 75-58 at Jax State on Jan. 23 and 81-65 at home against Liberty on Jan. 29.
- Head coach Nick McDevitt is in his eighth season guiding the Blue Raiders, holding a 104-121 record at the program's helm and a 202-187 record overall in his coaching career.
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.Â
