Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the score of the game

The Hilltoppers defended their home court in a hard-fought Sunday afternoon shootout with the Tennessee State Tigers, 95-82.

Despite the momentary scare of a 13-4 run, which cut the Hilltopper lead to six with 14 minutes to play, the Hilltoppers were in control for all 40 minutes. WKU outscored the Tigers 34-21 after that run, closing out the game with a 16-point lead.

The Hilltoppers maintained a comfortable lead through the first half, entering halftime up 51-43. Redshirt sophomore guard Teagan Moore, with back-to-back 3-point plays, pulled WKU out of an early 19-19 tie; the Hilltoppers wouldn’t give up another tie, and the Tigers never led.

“We were really putting a lot of pressure on the basket,” Head Coach Hank Plona said. “It’s a physical game out there, and we can be the more physical team.”

WKU made itself at home in the key, scoring 62 points in the paint and outrebounding the Tigers 39-35. Four Hilltoppers scored double digits, but Moore continued to find his step, scoring 20, shooting 7-9. Moore shot 6-8 from the free-throw line, but his other 14 came from the paint.

“We seem to be a hard team to keep out of the paint,” Plona said. “They pressure way out to the perimeter, so I was also aware this was probably not the game you try to hunt jumpshots.”

The Hilltoppers struggled to find success from three, shooting just 2-15 from three, both coming from senior guard Cam Haffner, who ended the day with 10 points. The Tigers and Hilltoppers combined for 66 total free throws, scoring 25 and 23 from the stripe, respectively.

The Hilltoppers return to Diddle Arena to face Bethel Nov. 18. The game will be live on ESPN+ at 6:30 p.m..