The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers turned in one of their most efficient efforts in recent memory Wednesday, rolling past in-state foe Eastern Kentucky 83-51 in front of 5,532 fans at Diddle Arena. The Hilltoppers (5-2) had seven players in double figures for the first time since 2001, and they tallied a season-high 24 assists with just six turnovers.
WKU – off to its best start since 2012 – made a season-high 10 of 18 3-pointers and shot 66.7 percent in the second half, outrebounding Eastern Kentucky 38-28. Redshirt junior guard Lamonte Bearden led the way with 16 points and six assists, while freshman guard Taveion Hollingsworth added 14 points and four assists.
Senior guard Darius Thompson, freshman guard Jake Ohmer and senior forward Justin Johnson all had 11 points. Senior forward Dwight Coleby and freshman forward Marek Nelson each scored 10 points. Coleby and Johnson each grabbed seven rebounds, and Thompson handed out nine assists with no turnovers. Thompson and Bearden combined for 15 assists with two turnovers.
WKU had runs of 13-0 and 9-0 in the first half and led 31-17 at the break. The Hilltoppers had another 9-0 run in the second half to swell the lead even more and led by as much as 37 with 2:54 to go. WKU outscored Eastern Kentucky 44-20 in the paint, 20-6 in points off turnovers and 17-4 on the fast break.
Dedric Boyd led EKU with 18 points.
The Hilltoppers stay at home to host Wright State Saturday.
(Courtesy WKU Athletics)