WKU to face Memphis, Alabama State in 2021-22 non-conference play

Sioux+Falls%2C+SD+-+Nov.+25%3A+Dayvion+Mcknight+%2320+of+the+Western+Kentucky+Hilltoppers+brings+the+ball+up+court+against+the+Northern+Iowa+Panthers+during+the+Bad+Boy+Mowers+Crossover+Classic+at+the+Sanford+Pentagon.

Credit: Richard Carlson/Inertia

Sioux Falls, SD – Nov. 25: Dayvion Mcknight #20 of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers brings the ball up court against the Northern Iowa Panthers during the Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic at the Sanford Pentagon.

Jake Moore, Sports Editor

Two more of WKU Basketball’s non-conference games have been confirmed. NCAA insider Jon Rothstein tweeted on Thursday morning that the Hilltoppers will be traveling to Memphis on Nov. 19 to face the Tigers at the FedExForum. The Bowling Green Daily News confirmed Rothstein’s information. A source also confirmed to the Daily News that the Hilltoppers will open their season at home against the Alabama State Hornets on Nov. 9.

The Hilltoppers and the Tigers last met on Nov. 26, 2020 in a matchup that was part of the Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic. The Hilltoppers won 75-69 on the back of a huge performance from Charles Bassey. The Lagos, Nigeria native put together a line of 21 points, 14 rebounds and seven blocks to down the Tigers and send WKU to the tournament championship. WKU will have a chance to take the lead in the two program’s all-time series. Both teams have won six games against each other, with the first encounter between the two dating back to 1960. A win against Memphis would be big for WKU. The Tigers enter the 2021-22 season as defending NIT champions and look to be poised for another strong year.

Alabama State will come to Bowling Green to serve as the Hilltoppers’ opening night opponent. The Hornets stumbled to a 4-14 record during the 2020-21 season while only playing Southwestern Athletic Conference opponents, ending the year on a six-game losing streak. The Hilltoppers have yet to lose to the Hornets, owning a perfect 3-0 record in the two-program’s all-time series. It will be the first meeting between the two since Nov. 12, 2016, a matchup that also took place in Diddle Arena.

Sports Editor Jake Moore can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @Charles_JMoore.