Hilltoppers Edge Out Bulldogs in a Close Encounter at Thomas Assembly Center
In a tightly contested matchup, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers emerged victorious over the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs with an 81-76 scoreline. The Hilltoppers now stand with an improved record, while the Bulldogs adjust their tally accordingly. The game was characterized by its competitive nature, as evidenced by the nine lead changes and four instances where the score was tied.
The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers showcased their offensive capabilities throughout the game. They finished with a commendable 47 percent shooting from the field on 58 attempts and were particularly effective from the free-throw line, converting 82 percent of their shots. Dominance in rebounding was also evident for Western Kentucky as they grabbed a total of 41 rebounds compared to Louisiana Tech's 33.
Western Kentucky's performance inside was notable, scoring 38 points in paint which matched that of Louisiana Tech. They also capitalized on turnovers, scoring 14 points off Louisiana Tech's mistakes. Despite committing more turnovers (13) than their opponents (9), Western Kentucky maintained control through key moments of play.
Defensively, Western Kentucky managed to block two shots and steal possession six times from Louisiana Tech. Their defensive efforts were further highlighted by securing more defensive rebounds (24) than Louisiana Tech (20), which helped them maintain their lead despite pressure from the home team.
Louisiana Tech put up a resilient fight against Western Kentucky's advances. They recorded seven blocks and eight steals while committing fewer turnovers than Western Kentucky with only nine lost possessions throughout the game. However, they struggled behind the arc with just a 24 percent success rate on three-point attempts compared to Western Kentucky’s slightly better rate at 31 percent.
The Bulldogs' free throw performance left room for improvement as they made only 63 percent of their shots from the line – a stark contrast to Western Kentucky’s impressive accuracy rate.
As fans look ahead, they can mark their calendars for when The Hilltoppers take on Jacksonville State Gamecocks at Pete Mathews Coliseum in Jacksonville on February 10th at 4:00 PM CST. This upcoming contest will be available for viewing via ESPN+ online platform ensuring fans won’t miss any action as The Hilltoppers seek another victory away from home.