The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers used balanced production to notch its fourth straight victory with a 78-60 win over Wright State at Diddle Arena. The Hilltoppers (6-2) had five players in double figures, led by 18 points, eight rebounds and five assists from senior guard Darius Thompson. In his last two games, Thompson has 14 assists and no turnovers.
Redshirt junior guard Lamonte Bearden scored 15 points with four assists, while senior forward Justin Johnson added 13 points and 12 rebounds for his 27th career double-double. Freshman guard Taveion Hollingsworth also scored 13 points – all in the second half. Senior forward Dwight Coleby finished with 10 points, eight rebounds and four blocks.
WKU opened the game with an 8-0 run, but Wright State (4-4) later rallied to take its lone lead at 23-22 at the 7:10 mark. But the Hilltoppers finished the half on an 11-2 run, scoring the final seven points of the frame to open a 41-30 halftime advantage. Wright State got within seven less than four minutes into the second half, but WKU pulled away for good with a 21-5 run, capped by a three-point play from Thompson at the 9:17 mark.
The Hilltoppers shot 51.9 percent from the field, made 8 of 19 3-pointers and netted 14 of 17 free throws. They tallied 15 assists on 28 baskets and outscored the Raiders 34-22 in the paint.
Grant Benzinger led Wright State with 19 points.
The Hilltoppers will take a week off for finals before competing in their first true road game of the season at Ohio at 1 p.m. CT Dec. 10.
(Courtesy WKU Athletics)