A balanced scoring attack put WKU Men’s Basketball on top 82-43  Wednesday night against Kentucky Wesleyan in its first exhibition game. 

Three Hilltoppers scored double digits, led by redshirt sophomore Teagan Moore with 11. Junior guard LJ Hackman and graduate forward Bryant Selebangue followed with 10 points apiece.

“I loved the fans, I loved the atmosphere,” Selebangue said. “We feed off of that when people come out and support us.” 

The Panthers kept the game close for the first half, trailing the Hilltoppers 24-20 with six minutes left in the half. 

Four straight points from Newell would spark the Hilltoppers on a 12-4 run to put the game out of reach. The Panthers would be held to just 23 points for the rest of the game.

The Hilltopper defense was aggressive, forcing 22 turnovers and 15 steals, led by freshman guard Armelo Boone with three steals.

“The score was 24-20, and I thought our defense had struggled,” Head Coach Hank Plona said. “On the last 24, 25 minutes, I was very, very pleased with our defense. We played together, and I thought the guys really figured it out.”

Selebangue, Hackman, graduate center Blaise Keita, junior guard Jack Edelen and junior forward Louie Semona got the start, holding the Panthers to just two points through the first five minutes of play. 

Senior center Noah Boyde, senior forward Grant Newell, graduate guard Terrion Murdix, Boone, and Moore checked in after the first TV timeout for two minutes before Plona rotated in members of the starting lineup. 

“We wanted to increase competitiveness, which I think worked,” Plona said of the lineup decisions. “I thought the different combinations were effective.” 

Next up for the Hilltoppers is a trip to Birmingham to play their second and final exhibition game against UAB on Wednesday, Oct. 29, at 6:30 p.m.