The Hilltoppers fall to 12-11 overall and 5-7 in Conference USA play.
HOW ITÂ HAPPENED
- WKU missed its first 11 attempts from the floor and went without a field goal for the opening five minutes, but still held a 4-3 lead at the 14:04 mark after LJ Hackman and Ryan Myers each knocked down a pair of free throws.
- After the teams traded baskets, WKU grabbed its largest lead of the half at 15-10 with 9:35 remaining when Grant Newell rattled off six straight points, burying a triple and then converting all three free throws after being fouled on another 3-point attempt. Armelo Boone added four points during that stretch to help extend the advantage.
- Jax State answered with an 8-2 run to move in front, 18-17, but Boone briefly put WKU back on top with a two-point basket at the 6:27 mark of the first half. The Gamecocks responded again, using two free throws and a jumper to reclaim a 22-19 lead with just over five minutes left before the break.
- Jax State carried a 33-28 edge into halftime. Myers accounted for six of the Hilltoppers' final nine points of the period with a pair of 3-pointers, while Hackman and Newell combined to add three points at the free throw line.
- WKU opened the second half on a 15-7 run to surge back in front, 43-40, with 14:05 to play. Hackman led the charge with five points in that stretch, while Boone and Kade Unseld chipped in three each and Myers and Blaise Keita added two apiece.
- Over the next five minutes, the game turned into a free throw battle as the Gamecocks nudged back ahead by scoring six of eight points at the line. The Hilltoppers answered with five free throws of their own from Hackman, Newell and Myers to reclaim a 50-48 edge with 9:43 remaining.
- In the final nine minutes, Myers poured in eight points and Hackman added six, but Jax State converted 14 free throws down the stretch to seal a 71-66 victory.
NOTABLES
- WKU drops to 12-11 overall, 5-7 in Conference USA play and 5-4 all-time against Jax State.
- Tonight's starting five featured Terrion Murdix, Armelo Boone, LJ Hackman, Kade Unseld and Blaise Keita.
- Tonight's announced attendance was 3,247.
- Four Hilltoppers reached double figures, led by Ryan Myers with 20 points off the bench. LJ Hackman finished with a Division I career-high of 17 points, while Boone added 11 and Grant Newell contributed 10.
- Myers poured in a team-high 20 points on 5-of-12 shooting, including 4-of-7 from beyond the arc, and went a perfect 6-of-6 at the free throw line. He also grabbed three rebounds in 27 minutes off the bench. It marked his second 20-point performance of the season.
- Hackman turned in a Division I career night with 17 points on 5-of-11 shooting, adding two rebounds and two assists in a career-best 34 minutes.
- Boone had 11 points on 5-of-12 from the floor to go along with three rebounds and three assists across 26 minutes.
- Newell chipped in 10 points, sinking 5-of-7 free throws. He also had four rebounds, two assists and a block in 23 minutes off the bench.
- Keita grabbed a team-high seven rebounds while adding four points and two steals in 18 minutes.
- Murdix had four steals in 12 minutes.
- WKU held advantages in points off turnovers (15-7), fast-break points (14-7), bench points (31-20), assists (9-6) and steals (8-4).Â
QUOTABLES
- "Just a very tough game, just a strange game. Obviously, a lot of things that we can do better. I thought we competed and played hard. I thought our intent was correct, but a lot of things to improve on. Luckily, we play again on Saturday, so a short time to do it and get another opportunity." — Mahurin Family Foundation Head Coach Hank Plona, on the loss to Jax State.
- "We definitely should have, could have fouled less. We need to use our length, just being on a string more defensively as a team and just being overall more efficient on both ends, as in just executing and making the winning plays." — G Ryan Myers, on the loss to Jax State.
- "We weren't very efficient this game. Neither team was, but something that really stood out — I feel like even though we weren't very efficient, if we would have just kept the fouls down, I feel like we still would have been able to get this win." — F Grant Newell, on the loss to Jax State.
NEXT UP
- WKU continues its three-game homestand on Saturday, Feb. 7 against FIU. Tipoff inside Diddle Arena is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT, with the game airing ESPN+. Tickets to the game can be purchased HERE.
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.
