RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University men's and women's basketball teams will host in-state rival Western Kentucky in a doubleheader on Wednesday night at McBrayer Arena. The women tip at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men at 8:00 p.m.
The games are sponsored by Meijer and both will air live on Fox College Sports Central.
Wednesday is a Maroon Out, please be sure to wear maroon to the game. FREE t-shirts will be given out while supplies last. Also, two lucky students will compete in a free throw contest during the men's game with the winner getting FREE Raising Cane's for a year. That person will then have a chance to win a $1,000 book scholarship by hitting a half court shot.
Men's Preview
WHAT TO KNOW
TV: Fox College Sports Central / DirecTV 608-1, Dish 454 and WBNA 21 in Louisville
Live Stats I Live Video (OVCDN) I Live Audio I Live Tweets I Game Notes I Buy Tickets
- This will be the 157
th meeting between EKU and WKU. The Hilltoppers lead the series, 113-43, and have won 13 straight over the Colonels dating back to 1987.
- It is the first time WKU has visited McBrayer Arena since Dec. 8, 2007.
- EKU nearly knocked off WKU last year in Bowling Green, but a last-second three-pointer by Justin Johnson lifted the Hilltoppers to an 86-84 victory.
- Senior wing
Jaylen Babb-Harrison knocked down six three-pointers and led Eastern with 18 points in last year's game at WKU.
- Sophomore forward
Nick Mayo was voted the OVC Player of the Week on Monday. He averaged 20.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists-per-game last week.
- Mayo currently ranks fourth in the OVC in scoring (19.7 points-per-game).
- EKU (3-4) defeated neighboring Berea College, 92-64, on Saturday night at McBrayer Arena. It was the first matchup between the two Madison County teams since 1997. Mayo led the way in that win with 19 points, nine rebounds, a career-high five assists and three steals.
- Freshman forward
Marlon Adams recorded his first-career double-double in the win over Berea, scoring 11 points and grabbing 10 boards. Adams has recorded 12 offensive rebounds in the Colonels' last two games.
- Another freshman,
Parker Chitty, also came off the bench to reach double figures in Saturday's win. Chitty scored a career-high 10 points and also contributed four assists and three steals.
- EKU leads the OVC and ranks 22
nd in the country in free throw percentage (77.8%). Babb-Harrison (second / 94.1%) and Mayo (fifth / 90.0%) both rank in the top five in the conference in foul shooting.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
- WKU (3-3) has wins over Alabama State, Jacksonville State and North Carolina A&T this year; however, the Hilltoppers are coming off back-to-back losses at the hands of Washington and UNLV.
- WKU was defeated by OVC preseason favorite Belmont, 90-69, on November 17 in Nashville.
- Que Johnson leads WKU at 15.0 points-per-game this season, while Justin Johnson comes in averaging 11.7 points and 9.5 rebounds-per-game.
UP NEXT
EKU will host Conference USA power Marshall on Saturday, December 3. Tip is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. ET.
Women's Preview
WHAT TO KNOW
TV: Fox College Sports Central / DirecTV 608-1, Dish 454 and WBNA 21 in Louisville
Live Stats | Live Video (OVCDN) |
Live Tweets |
Game Notes |
Buy Tickets
- This will be the 26th meeting between EKU and WKU. The Hilltoppers lead the series, 19-6, and have won 11 straight over the Colonels dating back to an 89-87 double overtime win at McBrayer Arena on Jan. 9, 1982.
- It is the first time WKU has visited McBrayer Arena since Feb. 16, 1991.
- WKU used a 48.2 percent night from the floor along with shooting 42.9 percent from deep to beat EKU 76-60 last season in Bowling Green.
- Senior
Jalen O'Bannon scored 10 points and eight boards to lead the Colonels last season. Three other Colonels scored in double figures in the loss, including sophomore
Abby Wright's 14 and 10 from senior
Alexus Cooper.
- O'Bannon and senior
Shavontae Naylor are tied for ninth in the OVC in scoring (13.4 points-per-game).
- EKU (2-3) split last weekend at the Plaza Lights Classic hosted at the University of Missouri Kansas City. The Colonels downed Morgan State, 66-58, on Friday before falling to Western Michigan University, 74-59, on Saturday.
- The Colonels forced Western Michigan into 17 turnovers, including 10 steals and seven blocks. EKU's seven blocks were the most for a Colonels team since EKU's 62-51 win over Murray State in the OVC tournament on March 6, 2013.
- EKU's 5.2 blocks-per-game is third best in the OVC.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
- WKU (3-3) has wins over Alabama A&M, Indiana, and an overtime victory over Kent State. The Hilltoppers lost their last contest in a 68-49 decision to George Washington.
- Tashia Brown leads WKU at 16.0 points-per-game this season, while Ivy Brown comes in averaging 14.5 points and 9.2 rebounds-per-game.
UP NEXT
EKU will travel to take on Saint Louis University on Saturday. Saturday's tip is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET.
