When Terrion Murdix, LJ Hackman, Teagan Moore, Grant Newell and Blaise Keita take the floor together, the outcome feels less like a contest and more like a foregone conclusion.
Now sitting at a perfect 7–0 as a unit, this starting rotation has evolved into the team’s definitive heartbeat. They don’t just outplay opponents; they dismantle them by seizing the tempo from the opening tip and never letting go.
In a season defined by parity, this quintet has discovered a rare, suffocating synchronicity that leaves the rest of the league searching for answers they haven’t found yet. The Hilltoppers were easily the hottest team in February, finishing 6-1 in the month. With three straight 90-point games and 80 or more scored in every win, the WKU offense was near unstoppable.
In their final showcase for the home fans, the Hilltoppers struck gold in their shooting numbers, hitting 65.5% of their field goals behind a 49-point first half, their most points scored in the first half in Conference USA play. They would carry that momentum into the second half, where they would run away with a 97-65 win over the UTEP Miners Saturday.
We haven’t seen efficiency like this involving pickaxes since the 1848 California gold rush. Meanwhile, the Miners found nothing but fool’s gold, falling behind due to multiple scoring runs by WKU. Despite trailing by 17 late in the first half, they brought it to within 10 at halftime.
After taking a 76-62 lead at the 7:36 mark, the Hilltoppers went on a 19-3 run to close out the game, leading by as much as 30 before the starters were pulled.
“I think everybody played to their strengths tonight,” Head Coach Hank Plona said. “We were patient, the unselfishness of each and every player was pretty impressive tonight.”
This game tells a bigger story that is the second-half surge the Hilltoppers have been on in February, riding a six-game win streak, their longest since early last season, marking their first double-digit conference win total since 2021-22.
“Very proud of the approach we’ve taken this last month,” Head Coach Hank Plona said. “We’ve been building, and these last games have probably been our best games of the year. The numbers and efficiency we play with is moving in the right direction, so we’ll just continue to build on and show them what they’re doing successfully.”
Plona seems to have found the right rhythm at the perfect time. With the regular season home slate finished in spectacular fashion, the Hilltoppers head on the road to face Missouri State and FIU to close out the year. If they keep shooting nearly 60% from the field, the Conference USA tournament in Huntsville might just become the WKU Invitational.