Dominic Di Palermo

Guard Brandon Newman (10) attempts to pass the ball through Panthers defense during the first game of the season in the Diddle arena on Monday Nov. 6, 2023.

The Hilltoppers hit the road for the first time during their 2023-2024 campaign, as they traveled to Wichita State University Thursday to take on the Shockers for the first time in ten years. WKU dropped the game 71-61 after blowing a halftime lead.

Wichita State also came into the game 1-0, as they defeated the Lipscomb Bisons in their inaugural game of the season. 

Wichita State entered the game atop the American Athletic Conference, a group of teams that looks very different than it did just one year prior. Former Conference-USA challengers Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, North Texas, Rice, UAB, and UTSA all moved into the AAC after the 2022 season. 

Unfortunately, The Shockers seemed to be just too much for the Hilltoppers, as WKU picked up their first loss of the season.

The opening game plan was straightforward for the Hilltoppers, take the three if it’s open. Unfortunately for WKU, they started the game ice-cold from behind the arch and ended up going 0-12 throughout the entirety of the First Half. However, when the open three ball was not there, Rodney Hudson dominated under the rim. The Big Man logged six points in his first seven minutes active.

The Shockers received a similar memo regarding their desired spot to score from, as 30% of their shots came from behind the three-point line throughout the first 13 minutes of the game. A similar outcome was in the cards for them as well, as they went 2-8 from three throughout the First Half. 

Ultimately, it was a defensive battle between the two teams in the first half, as the Shockers and the Hilltoppers combined for only 56 points. However, the Shocker defense was no match for the Hilltopper offense, as they led 29-27 going into Halftime. 

WKU was able to win the First Half turnover battle, as they poked the ball away from Wichita State 11 times to their four, yet they were only able to cash in on eight points off of turnovers. 

Wichita State started the 2nd Half hot, going on a 7-0 run while WKU’s fifth year Rodney Howard struggled to find the basket three consecutive times. That was all the motivation that the Shockers needed to put this game just out of reach for the Hilltoppers. 

The game was flipped on its head at the halfway point in the 2nd Half. Wichita State’s Kenny Pohto and Harlon Beverly went a combined 8-10 through the first 12 minutes, resulting in 18 points. WKU’s junior Don McHenry was the only Hilltopper who seemed to be able to get something started offensively, as the guard contributed 8 of the team’s 14 points.

It was WKU’s inability to get anything happening from beyond the arch that ultimately sealed the Hilltoppers’ fate, as the team finished 0-21 from 3-point range. 

WKU finishes their 2-game road stint by visiting Murray State on November 14th before returning to Diddle for a 6-game home stretch. 

Sports Reporter Luke Edmonds can be reached at [email protected]