BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — A new era for Hilltopper Basketball begins Sunday afternoon at 2:00 (CT) as WKU hosts Marshall in its first game as a member of Conference USA.
The Hilltoppers finished non-conference play at 7-5 with six wins in the last eight games, and WKU will play 18 conference games over the next 10 weeks culminating in the C-USA Tournament in Birmingham, Ala., March 11-14.
WKU leads the all-time series between the two schools 11-5, and Marshall most recently defeated the Hilltoppers 74-64 last season in Huntington in non-conference play. In addition to Marshall being WKU’s first Conference USA foe, the two share another conference-related distinction as both were founding members of the Ohio Valley Conference in 1948.
During its current stretch of six wins in eight games, WKU has trimmed its early-season turnovers by nearly four per game, is shooting 6.5 percent better from the field and over seven percent better from the free throw line.
After the game against Marshall, WKU concludes its seven-game homestand with conference games against Charlotte and Old Dominion.
GAME 13
WKU (7-5, 0-0 C-USA) vs. Marshall (4-9, 0-0 C-USA)
January 4, 2015 | 2:00 PM (CT)
Bowling Green, Ky. | E.A. Diddle Arena (7,326)
QUICK SHOTS
– WKU has split its previous pair of opening games in a new conference, winning 66-51 at Morehead State on Dec. 13, 1948 in its first Ohio Valley Conference game and losing 75-66 at Old Dominion on Dec. 11, 1982 in its inaugural Sun Belt Conference contest.
– WKU, Cal State Northridge, Radford and Boise State are the only schools in the nation with two active 1,300-point scorers.
– WKU has won 11 of its last 14 regular-season home games, and the Hilltoppers are 34-11 at E.A. Diddle Arena under head coach Ray Harper (.756).
– WKU is averaging 11.2 turnovers per contest in the last five games (4-1) after averaging 16.8 miscues per game in the first five games of the year (2-3).
– T.J. Price ranks eighth among active NCAA Division I players in career three-point field goals made (238), 31st in career points scored (1,438) and 62nd in career scoring average (13.7), and George Fant ranks 20th in career rebounds (711).
– Sunday’s game is scheduled to be the 103rd start in George Fant’s WKU career, which would move him 10 shy of tying Clarence Martin for 5th in Hilltopper history (113).
– T.J. Price is averaging 20.6 points per game in the last five contests, shooting 51.7 percent from the field (31-for-60) and 50.0 percent from three-point range (19-for-38).
– T.J. Price ranks 18th in the nation in 2014-15 in three-point field goal percentage (.471).
– T.J. Price has recorded double-figure scoring outings in 12 of his last 14 games NCAA Division I games, including four-straight 20-point performances.
– T.J. Price has converted 53 of his last 63 free throw tries (.841) dating back to the end of last season.
– Chris Harrison-Docks has made 26 of his last 29 free throw attempts (.897) going back to the end of last season, where he finishing third in the nation among freshman from the charity stripe.
– Chris Harrison-Docks has hit multiple three-pointers in 25 of his 36 career games for WKU.
BROADCAST
– Listen: Hilltopper IMG Sports Network, TuneIn Radio (free) (Randy Lee, pxp | Hal Schmitt, analysis)
– Watch: Fox College Sports, WKU PBS, WBNA (radio simulcast)
– Live Stats: WKUSports.com (free)
PROMOTIONS
– White Out: first 1,000 fans receive a free white C-USA Inaugural Game t-shirt
– Education Day: all students in grades K-8 can receive a free ticket to the game, and friends and family can purchase additional tickets for $10.00 each
– Party 1 Kid Zone: free inflatable fun zone for kids opens one hour prior to tipoff on the third level concourse of E.A. Diddle Arena
TICKETS
– WKU Ticket Office: online at WKUSports.com, in person at E.A. Diddle Arena, via phone at 1-800-5-BIG Red or 745-5222 locally
How to Follow the Hilltoppers: For complete information on WKU Hilltopper Basketball, visit WKUSports.com or follow the program via social media @WKUBasketball on Twitter and on Facebook at facebook.com/WKUBasketball.
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