GAME INFO
- Morehead State (0-0) at WKU (0-0)
- Monday, Nov. 2 | 6:30 p.m. CT | E.A. Diddle Arena | Bowling Green, Ky.
- Watch: ESPN+ (PxP: Tyler Eaton | Analyst: Dan McHale)
- Listen: BG 100.7 FM/The Varsity Network (PxP: Randy Lee | Analyst: Hal Schmitt)
- Live Stats: StatBroadcast
- Social: @WKUBasketball | @WKUSports
- Game Notes: WKU | Morehead State
AT THE GAME
- TICKETS: Purchase tickets to Monday's season opener HERE. Ticket booths at E.A. Diddle Arena will be open during normal business hours. Doors will open 90 minutes prior to tipoff.
- DIGITAL PARKING: WKU Athletics has transitioned to digital gameday parking for the 2026-27 Hilltopper Basketball season. Fans will need to download the WKU Hilltoppers app, create an account and load digital parking passes onto their account before arriving on campus. A full breakdown of digital parking instructions can be found HERE. Gameday parking instructions can be found HERE.
- NEW AT DIDDLE ARENA: WKU Athletics will offer several new opportunities for fans during the 2026-27 Hilltopper Basketball season at Diddle Arena, including expanded alcohol options, digital parking, the WKU Spirit 50/50 raffle, the Hilltopper Assist student scholarship raffle and more. For more information on new offerings at Diddle Arena, click HERE.
- BIG RED WANTS YOU: WKU students are invited to pack the student section for Big Red Recruit Games, starting Nov. 2 against Morehead State. All on-court promotions will feature WKU students. Eligible students can enter the Hilltopper Assist raffle for a chance to win a $1,000 scholarship, with the winner announced during the second half. At least 300 students must attend for the drawing to take place, and the winner must be present.
- HILLTOPPER HIGHLIGHTS: Fans can purchase premium basketball gameday experiences through Hilltopper Highlights, including videoboard messages, Big Red visits, fan tunnels and more. For more information, click HERE.
- POSTGAME FIST BUMPS: After the game, stick around for fist bumps from the WKU Hilltopper Basketball team and listen to the live postgame interview with Mahurin Family Foundation Head Coach Hank Plona.
- GAMEDAY GUIDE: For the full WKU Hilltopper Basketball Digital Gameday Guide, click HERE.
- BASKETBALL GAMEDAY: For the full WKU Basketball Gameday Information Page, click HERE.
- PROMOTIONAL SCHEDULE: For the full 2026-27 WKU Hilltopper Basketball Promotional Schedule, click HERE.
- WINTER SPORTS YEARBOOK: For the full 2026-27 WKU Basketball Winter Sports Yearbook, click HERE.
ABOUT THE TOPS
- PRESEASON PLAY: WKU finished exhibition play 1-1, defeating Bowling Green, 65-62, in the "Battle for Bowling Green" before falling to Indiana, 79-74, at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana. Teagan Moore led the Hilltoppers in both games, scoring 22 points against the Falcons and 30 against the Hoosiers.
- YEAR THREE FOR PLONA: WKU Hilltopper Basketball begins the 2026-27 campaign under third-year Mahurin Family Foundation Head Coach Hank Plona, looking to build on an 18-14 record and third-place finish in Conference USA in 2025-26. Plona compiled a 35-29 record in his first two seasons as head coach.
- RETURNING CORE: The Hilltoppers return five players and welcome nine newcomers, including six transfers and three freshmen. WKU's five returners are guards Teagan Moore, Armelo Boone, LJ Hackman, Kade Unseld and Lawson Rice. That group combined for 61 starts and accounted for 46.0% of WKU's scoring, 36.7% of its rebounding, 37.9% of its minutes, 39.9% of its assists and 46.7% of its steals last season.
- MOORE TO COME: Moore enters his fourth year on The Hill as the 2026-27 CUSA Preseason Player of the Year and the 2026-27 Blue Ribbon Yearbook CUSA Preseason Player of the Year, while earning an All-CUSA Preseason Team selection. He averaged 18.7 points and 5.6 rebounds across 27 games with 25 starts last season, ranking second in CUSA in scoring and third in field-goal percentage (52.9%) while shooting 42.9% from 3-point range and 80.0% at the free throw line. His scoring average was WKU's highest since Courtney Lee in 2007-08. Moore earned All-CUSA First Team and NABC All-District Second Team honors, along with back-to-back CUSA Player of the Week awards.
- BOONE LOOKING TO BUILD: Boone enters his sophomore season as a 2026-27 All-CUSA Preseason Team selection after averaging 10.9 points, a team-high 6.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 steals across 29 games with 11 starts last season. He earned CUSA All-Freshman Team honors and tied for the league lead with four CUSA Freshman of the Week awards. Boone recorded three double-doubles, becoming the first WKU freshman with multiple double-doubles in a season since Charles Bassey in 2018-19, and scored a season-high 22 points in the Hilltoppers' win over Wichita State at Battle 4 Atlantis.
- HACKMAN'S BACK: Hackman returns starting experience to WKU's backcourt after appearing in all 32 games with 21 starts last season, averaging 8.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He scored in double figures 13 times, highlighted by a season-high 21 points against UTEP, and averaged 13.4 points over seven games in February while shooting 50.0% from the field and 86.1% at the free throw line. Hackman also recorded his first Division I double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds in a win over New Mexico State.
- FRONTCOURT TRANSFERS: WKU bolstered its frontcourt with three transfers expected to play significant roles this season: Emondrek Erkins-Ford from Jax State, EJ Walker from South Carolina and Moussa Konare from Trinity Valley Community College.
- BACKCOURT TRANSFERS: The Hilltoppers added backcourt experience with transfers Sharron Young from Akron, Noah Norgaard from UNC Greensboro and Trevion LaBeaux from East Carolina. LaBeaux reunites with Plona after playing for him at Indian Hills Community College.
- FRESH FACES: WKU welcomes three freshmen in guard Gavin Murphy and forwards Gabe Weis and Joseph Adebayo. Weis, an ESPN four-star prospect, is expected to contribute immediately in the frontcourt after playing his senior season at La Lumiere School in La Porte, Indiana.
QUOTABLE
- "Looking forward to getting the season started here Monday at Diddle Arena versus Morehead State. I thought we had a great crowd for our exhibition game last week versus Bowling Green, and obviously hoping Hilltopper Nation shows up on Monday night. I know that would really help, and the guys would love it." — Mahurin Family Foundation Head Coach Hank Plona, on the season opener vs. Morehead State.
SERIES INFORMATION
- Monday's game marks the 105th meeting between WKU and Morehead State and the first since Dec. 21, 1985, when the Hilltoppers earned a 75-68 road victory over the Eagles.
- WKU leads the all-time series, 73-31, including a 43-4 record at home.
- The Hilltoppers have won four of the last five meetings, including the last two.
SCOUTING THE EAGLES
- Morehead State finished the 2025-26 season with a 20-13 overall record and a 15-5 mark in OVC play, earning a share of the conference's regular-season championship.
- The Eagles return seven players from last season's team and welcome seven newcomers.
- Morehead State finished exhibition play 0-2, falling at Eastern Kentucky, 78-67, on Oct. 21 and at Dayton, 88-56, on Oct. 24.
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.
