Jim Mashek

HILLTOPPERS TAKE 3-1 RECORD INTO ROAD GAME AGAINST TULSA

The Western Kentucky men’s basketball team remains a work in progress, but the Hilltoppers had little trouble in dispatching nearby NAIA squad Campbellsville University on Wednesday night.

The Tops again used their inside strength to turn back the Tigers, 78-51, before a paid crowd of 2,723 at WKU’s historic E.A. Diddle Arena, while giving the squad a breather after a tough 97-94 loss to Tennessee Tech on Sunday in Cookeville, Tennessee.

“It’s probably good, that everybody can get a little bit of playing time, and some experience on the floor,” third-year WKU head coach Hank Plona said when it was over.

The Hilltoppers improved to 3-1 on the season, heading into Monday’s road game against the University of Tulsa. The Hurricanes used a disputed 3-pointer at the buzzer to squeeze past WKU, 82-81, last December at Diddle Arena.

Western Kentucky also will play four consecutive games away from its home floor, before returning to square off with Belmont University on December 1.

Campbellsville dropped to 4-2 on the season.

“We’re going to learn from this game, and get better from it,” WKU junior guard Sharron Young said.

Plona was able to substitute freely against the Tigers, with former Warren Central star Kade Unseld getting his first playing time of the season. Unseld, who has battled knee trouble since enrolling at WKU in 2024, entered the game midway through the second half and logged just over seven minutes on the floor, finishing the game with five points, one rebound and one assist. Plona is hopeful Unseld can bolster the Hilltoppers’ outside shooting, as they’ve relied primarily on their inside game over the first two weeks of the season.

“Kade was cleared to play (medically) last week, but it’s good for him to et out there,” Plona said. “We’re not sure about his (immediate) playing time, but I know he’ll be working hard to get back … Obviously, we need a little bit of help, shooting the ball.”

WKU struggled with its 3-point defense in the road loss at Tennessee Tech, which hit a school-record 19 3-point field goals in knocking off the Hilltoppers in Cookeville. Campbellsville did the bulk of its damage from the perimeter, too, hitting 11 of 26 shots from 3-point range.

The Tigers’ Dalton Kramer and Cannon Young each finished with a team-high 10 points, six of which came on 3-point field goals for both players.

“I think Tulsa leads the nation in threes, as far as their percentage of scoring,” Plona said, “so (three-point) defense is going to be a point of emphasis (in practice).”

Western Kentucky was simply too strong inside for Campbellsville, outscoring the Tigers 46-10 in the paint. Senior forward Emondrek Erkins-Ford, a transfer from Jacksonville State, led the Hilltoppers with 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting, while preseason Conference USA Player of the Year Teagan Moore finished the game with 12 points, three rebounds, three steals and two assists.

WKU sophomore guard Armelo Boone added 10 points, five rebounds and three steals. Freshman forward Gabe Weis continued to impress, off the bench, finishing the game with eight points and two rebounds.

“(Weis) is unbelievably talented,” Plona said. “When he has the ball in his hands, he has a unique ability to finish … He’s had some moments that should help his confidence.”

One of the keys to the Hilltoppers’ prospects seems to be junior guard Sharron Young. Young replaces the departed Terrion Murdix at point guard, and he’s shown promise in his first four games after transferring from Akron University. Young finished the game with seven points, six rebounds and six assists, without a turnover.

“Obviously, we have a very difficult stretch in front of us,” Plona said, “and we need to improve, get better and get right back to work before going to Tulsa.”

After that game, the Hilltoppers will play in the Greenbrier Tip-Off at White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, with games against Richmond and George Washington University. On Thanksgiving Weekend, the Tops will tangle with Illinois, from the Big Ten, in Champaign, Illinois.