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- calendar_today November 3, 2026
WKU Hilltoppers Open 2026-27 Season with Strong Win
The WKU Hilltopper basketball team commenced the 2026-27 season in impressive fashion with an 83-58 victory over Morehead State on Monday night at E.A. Diddle Arena in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The Hilltoppers gained early control of the game, leading for nearly 39 minutes and building a lead as large as 32 points in the second half, propelled by a second-half shooting percentage of 51.5%.
Offensive Leaders Shine for Hilltoppers
Four Hilltoppers scored in double figures, with Teagan Moore leading the team at 17 points. Moore shot 6-of-11 from the field and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line, adding three rebounds and two assists in just 18 minutes of play. Freshman Gabe Weis had a notable collegiate debut, contributing 14 points in 17 minutes off the bench. Weis shot 5-of-9 overall, including 2-of-5 from three-point range and a perfect 2-of-2 from the line, while also recording an assist, a block, and a steal. Weis’s 14 points marked the highest debut by a WKU freshman since Dayvion McKnight’s 21 points in 2020.
Sharron Young and Armelo Boone Make Key Contributions
Sharron Young added 13 points for WKU, shooting 5-of-8 from the field and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. Young also dished out a team-high six assists and committed just one turnover during his 23 minutes on the court. Armelo Boone rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10 points, while falling just one rebound shy of a double-double with a team-high nine boards. Boone also added three assists and four steals, marking the second consecutive season he recorded four steals in a season opener.
Hilltoppers Establish and Maintain Control
The game began with WKU jumping out to a 6-0 lead before Morehead State responded to briefly take the lead. The teams exchanged baskets multiple times throughout the first half, but the Hilltoppers used a series of runs, including an 8-0 spurt initiated by Young and Moore, to build a double-digit advantage. WKU entered halftime up 38-28 and quickly expanded the gap after the break, employing multiple runs and defensive stops to pull away.
Bench Depth and Team Performance
WKU’s bench made a significant impact, contributing 42 points overall, with Young and Weis combining for 27. Thirteen of the team’s fourteen players saw action in the season opener. Newcomers including Weis, Gavin Murphy, Joseph Adebayo, and Lawson Rice made their collegiate debuts, while others made their first appearance for WKU or in Division I play.
The Hilltoppers shot 43.5% from the field (30-of-69) and 35.7% from three-point range (10-of-28). They were also efficient at the free-throw line, hitting 13-of-15 attempts. WKU dominated the boards with 43 rebounds—including 13 offensive boards—leading to 16 second-chance points. The team moved the ball well, recording 17 assists to just six turnovers, and they notched 11 steals, converting 13 Morehead State turnovers into 16 points.
Coach and Player Reactions
Mahurin Family Foundation Head Coach Hank Plona expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, noting, “I thought just about every player had a stretch where they really contributed in a major way and helped us go on a run.” Weis, reflecting on his debut, said, “I want to thank God for giving me this opportunity to play at this level and at this school.” Guard Armelo Boone highlighted the teamwork, stating, “That was a great win for us. We work on this stuff all day, and we came out here just to compete and just play together.”
Looking Ahead
With this win, the Hilltoppers start the season 1-0, remaining historically strong in season openers (74-32) and in head-to-head matchups with Morehead State (73-31). Their next game is scheduled for Thursday, November 5, against Kentucky Wesleyan at home in E.A. Diddle Arena, with tipoff at 6:30 p.m. CT and streaming coverage on ESPN+.
Source: wnky.com.
