WKU MBB: WKU Drops Road Battle at Kennesaw State, 72-69

KENNESAW, Ga. — WKU Hilltopper Basketball lost to Kennesaw State 72-69 on Wednesday inside the KSU Convocation Center.

The Hilltoppers fall to 11-10 overall and 4-6 in Conference USA play.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• WKU and Kennesaw State were deadlocked at 8-8 at the first media timeout with 15:30 left in the opening half. WKU’s early offense came on 3-pointers from Kade Unseld and LJ Hackman, plus a dunk by Leeroy Odiahi, who also impacted the game defensively with two early blocks.
• After a Blaise Keita layup tied it at 12-12, the Owls answered with an 8-2 spurt to move in front 20-14 just past the midway point of the half. The Hilltoppers countered, pulling even at 26-26 behind seven straight points from Ryan Myers and three made free throws by Grant Newell.
• WKU continued to capitalize at the foul line late in the period, scoring seven of its final 10 points of the half at the stripe. Keita (2-for-2), Hackman (3-for-3) and Terrion Murdix (2-for-2) each converted all of their attempts, while Newell added a 3-pointer as the Hilltoppers went into halftime trailing 37-36.
• Newell and Jack Edelen opened the second half with layups before a Myers 3-pointer gave WKU its first edge since the early going at 43-42, only for Kennesaw State to answer with a layup to go back in front, 44-43, with 16:21 remaining. Unseld’s second triple of the night swung the margin back to the Tops at 46-44 with just over 15 minutes left.
• That shot helped spark WKU’s best stretch of the night, as it pushed the cushion to as many as 10 at 63-53 with 6:30 on the clock. Six different Hilltoppers scored during the surge, highlighted by five points from Newell and four from Cade Stinnett, while Hackman, Myers, Unseld and Edelen chipped in two each.
• Kennesaw State mounted a late charge, stringing together a 14-2 run to seize a 67-65 lead with 3:01 to play. Newell responded with a jumper to even the score at 67-67, but the Owls answered with a timely 3-pointer to reclaim a three-point edge at the 2:29 mark.
• Murdix knocked down two free throws to trim the deficit to one with 1:34 remaining, but WKU came up empty on its final opportunities, ultimately falling 72-69.

NOTABLES

• WKU falls to 11-10 overall, 4-6 in Conference USA play and 3-3 all-time against Kennesaw State.
• Today’s starting five featured Terrion Murdix, Jack Edelen, LJ Hackman, Kade Unseld and Leeroy Odiahi.
• Three Hilltoppers scored in double figures. Grant Newell led WKU with 15 points, while Ryan Myers added 12 and Hackman chipped in 10.
• Grant Newell finished with 15 points, five rebounds, two blocks and a steal in 25 minutes off the bench, going 5-for-8 from the free throw line.
• Ryan Myers added 12 points in 24 minutes off the bench, hitting 4-of-8 shots, including a pair of triples, while also chipping in two rebounds and a steal.
• Hackman had 10 points, four rebounds, three assists and a steal across 27 minutes. He was perfect from the stripe, hitting all five of his free throws.
• Murdix contributed across the board with eight points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals in just 19 minutes.
• Unseld scored eight points and grabbed three rebounds in 19 minutes. It was the first start of his collegiate career.
• Blaise Keita pulled down a season-high eight rebounds in 16 minutes of action, also adding four points off the bench.
• In his first start of the season, Odiahi tallied four points and two blocks in 22 minutes.
• Cade Stinnett produced four points and four rebounds in a career-high 19 minutes.
• WKU held advantages in points off turnovers (12-8), second chance points (17-8), bench points (35-22), assists (10-9), and steals (7-6) while tying Kennesaw State in rebounding (40-40).

NEXT UP

• WKU concludes its three-game road swing on Saturday, Jan. 31, at Middle Tennessee. Tipoff inside the Murphy Center is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT, with the game airing nationally on CBS Sports Network.