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GAME INFO
- WKU (9-6, 2-2 CUSA) at UTEP (5-10, 1-3 CUSA)
- Saturday, Jan. 10 | 3:00 p.m. CT | Don Haskins Center | El Paso, Texas
- Watch: ESPN+ (PxP: Andy Morgan | Analyst: Bobby Braswell)
- Listen: The Varsity Network (PxP: Randy Lee | Analyst: Hal Schmitt)
- Live Stats: StatBroadcast
- Social: @WKUBasketball | @WKUSports
- Game Notes: WKU | UTEP
ABOUT THE TOPS
- WKU fell 80-64 to New Mexico State on Thursday night inside the Pan American Center in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The Hilltoppers trailed early after the Aggies opened on a 13-0 run and never fully recovered despite several second-half surges. Armelo Boone paced WKU with 13 points and nine rebounds, while Jack Edelen added a season-high nine points off the bench. Kade Unseld and Cam Haffner chipped in eight points apiece as the Hilltoppers' reserves combined for 34 points. WKU, now 9-6 overall and 2-2 in Conference USA play, outscored the Aggies 30-20 in the paint and 22-16 on second-chance opportunities.
- Through 15 games, WKU has established itself as one of the nation's premier free throw teams, ranking seventh nationally with 20.2 made free throws per game and 10th with 27.2 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 against Bethel (Tenn.). They've converted at least 17 free throws in 12 of 14 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.
- WKU has asserted itself as one of the premier rebounding teams in the country, ranking 14th nationally with 42.4 rebounds per game and tying for ninth with 14.8 offensive boards. The Hilltoppers have surpassed 40 rebounds in 11 of 15 games, including a season-high 49 boards against Campbellsville and Sam Houston. Through three conference games, WKU leads the league with 43.5 rebounds and 18.8 offensive rebounds per game.
- Redshirt sophomore guard Teagan Moore has been a driving force behind WKU's 9-6 start, pacing the Hilltoppers with 17.3 points and 5.9 rebounds per game while reaching double figures in 13 of 15 contests. He delivered a career outing in last 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 performance of the season. The Dry Ridge, Kentucky, native ranks fifth in CUSA in scoring after missing all of last season due to injury.
- 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 14.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.7 steals over the last six games against Campbellsville, Tulsa, Jax State, Sam Houston, Louisiana Tech and New Mexico State. He's shot 42.5% (34-of-80) from the field and 76.5% (13-of-17) at the free throw line during that stretch. In that span, he's posted a pair of double-doubles against Tulsa (16 points, 12 rebounds) and Sam Houston (16 points, 13 rebounds), becoming the first WKU freshman to record multiple double-doubles in a season since Charles Bassey in 2018-19. Through 15 games this season, he's averaging 12.3 points, a team-high 6.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.6 steals while shooting 41.4% from the field and 73.8% at the line.
- Graduate guard Ryan Myers has emerged as a reliable scoring option for WKU over the past month. Across the last 10 games, he's averaging 12.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 23.0 minutes per contest while shooting 41.1% (39-of-95) from the field and an impressive 49.2% (30-of-61) 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. He played a big role in WKU's 2-0 weekend against Sam Houston and Louisiana Tech, posting 15.5 points on 42.9% (9-of-21) shooting, 3.0 assists and 2.5 rebounds in 24.0 minutes per game.
- Senior forward Grant Newell has provided a steady two-way presence for WKU in the frontcourt, averaging 10.9 points and 4.2 rebounds while starting all 15 games this season. Newell has scored in double figures nine 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.
- Graduate guard Terrion Murdix made his return to the court Thursday at New Mexico State, recording six points, four assists and two steals in 16 minutes off the bench. It marked his first game action since suffering an injury against South Florida at Battle 4 Atlantis on Nov. 27, 2025.
SERIES INFORMATION
- Saturday will mark the 16th meeting all-time between WKU and UTEP. The Hilltoppers lead the series, 13-2.
- WKU has won the last four meetings, including two wins over the Miners last season. The Hilltoppers earned a 78-74 win in the first meeting in Bowling Green on Jan. 30, 2025 before taking the second meeting, 80-73, in El Paso on Feb. 27, 2025.
SCOUTING THE MINERS
- UTEP enters Saturday's game with an 5-10 overall record and a 1-3 mark in Conference USA play after an 83-80 overtime win at home over Middle Tennessee on Jan. 8. The Miners played their first three CUSA games on the road, falling to Louisiana Tech (75-63), Missouri State (79-55) and FIU (76-64).
- UTEP is led by head coach Joe Golding, who is in his fifth season at the helm. He owns a 75-73 overall record with the Miners and a 233-217 career record in 15 seasons.
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.
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