Hilltoppers Use Efficient Offensive Night to Top Charlotte 77-67
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — WKU Hilltopper Basketball shot better than 55% from the field and again got big outings from the duo of Dayvion McKnight and Camron Justice on Thursday, downing Charlotte 77-67 at E.A. Diddle Arena.
McKnight and Justice combined for 42 points as the Hilltoppers (16-11, 8-6 Conference USA) won their fourth game in eight days and sixth straight overall.
“We knew what Charlotte would be tonight because they’re a good basketball team,” WKU head coach Rick Stansbury said. “They’re a team that’s hard to match up and guard with some. That first game over there, we just jumped on them so quick, we took all the confidence from them. I think we were up 23 or 24 at halftime. Tonight, we weren’t able to do that, they were just a better team than they were over there. Made five 3s in the first half. Last game, I think they made five for the whole game. But, every time they made runs, cut that lead to two in that second half, our guys found ways to respond.”
The sophomore guard McKnight scored 16 of his game-high 22 points in the first half, going 7-for-7 from the field before the break.
Two of those shots were back-to-back 3-pointers in the final 56 seconds of the frame that made it a 47-36 halftime lead.
Charlotte (13-12, 6-7) got back in it with an 8-0 run in the second half that made it 51-48 with 16:38 remaining.
The 49ers pulled within two multiple times in the second half. The lead was 61-59 with 8:04 to go, but the graduate senior guard Justice found junior center Jamarion Sharp for a lob dunk and then hit a 3 in transition to push it back to a seven-point lead.
“Like I say all the time to you guys, basketball is a game of runs,” Justice said. “There’s going to be ups and downs, ebbs and flows, and it’s about whether you can withstand the ebbs and flows and ups and downs. The testament of a good team is withstanding the downs and coming back and sparking back and ending the game out.”
Justice finished with 20 points and seven assists while knocking down 5 of 8 3-pointers. McKnight added five assists and 8-of-11 shooting.
McKnight and Justice have combined for 92 points in the last two games, while Justice has made 11 of 18 3-pointers over that span.
The Hilltopper shot 55.1% from the field and made 11 of 19 3-pointers, recording just eight turnovers.
Senior forward Jairus Hamilton chipped in 15 points and seven rebounds.
Austin Butler scored 21 points to lead Charlotte.
The Hilltoppers stay at home to host Old Dominion at 6 p.m. CT Saturday. The game will air on ESPN+.
