WKU men’s ball driven for about 38 minutes in an 89-69 triumph over 6-seed Unused Mexico State on Thursday night within the Conference USA Championship quarterfinal at VBC Propst Field. The Hilltoppers, presently 20-11 on the season, will play 7-seed Center Tennessee on Friday at 2 p.m. CT within the elimination rounds on CBS Sports Arrange.
The triumph was WKU’s 20th of the season, the program’s 48th all-time 20-win season – seventh-most in college ball history.
Rodney Howard driven the Hilltoppers with a career-high 20 focuses, including five bounce back in fair 21 minutes of activity. Enoch Kalambay included 12 focuses and eight bounce back off the seat, as the WKU seat outscored Unused Mexico State’s, 51-27, within the win.
Howard driven five Hilltoppers in twofold figures, as Dontaie Allen had 13, Brandon Newman had 10 focuses and seven sheets, and Khristian Lander too had 10 off the seat. Seven Hilltoppers played at slightest 20 minutes, with no one playing more than Allen’s 26 minutes on Thursday evening.
WKU outscored the Aggies by 16 focuses at the charity stripe, as the Hilltoppers went 23-of-31 from the line and Modern Mexico State was fair 7-of-16.
The Hilltoppers hopped out to an 8-2 lead on the quality of early three-pointers by Tyrone Marshall, Jr. and Newman. WKU driven 8-4 at the primary media timeout and held a five-point edge, at 18-13, with 11:
27 cleared out within the to begin with half.
In any case, Modern Mexico State came out of the game’s moment media timeout and went on a 7-0 run, taking its as it were lead of the game, 20-18, with 9:
47 cleared out within the to begin with half.
The Hilltoppers promptly reacted with a 12-0 run of its possess, taking a commanding 30-20 lead. WKU driven 40-29 at halftime.
Coming out of the break, Unused Mexico State closed to five focuses, at 45-40, with 16:05 to play within the diversion, but the Hilltoppers outscored the Aggies 27-16 over the following 10 minutes to extend the lead to 16 with 6:36 to play.
WKU had just six turnovers on the night and outrebounded Modern Mexico State, 37-36. Forty-two of the Hilltoppers’ 89 focuses came within the paint.
Looking for its to begin with CUSA Championship Amusement appearance since 2020-21, WKU faces a brief turnaround with a 2 p.m. CT tipoff vs. Center Tennessee Friday. Center Tennessee vanquished 2-seed Louisiana Tech on Wednesday night. Within the other elimination round, 1-seed Sam Houston State will meet 5-seed UTEP at 11:30 a.m. CT on Friday.
