Plona hopeful top scorer Moore nearing return

Published 11:30 am Monday, February 9, 2026

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Western Kentucky redshirt sophomore guard Teagan Moore drives to the basket for a shot during the Tops’ 82-43 exhibition win against Kentucky Wesleyan on Oct. 22 at E.A. Diddle Arena.

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Western Kentucky junior forward Louie Semona (33) shoots a layup around Tulsa graduate forward David Green (23) in the Hilltoppers’ 82-81 loss to the Golden Hurricane at E. A. Diddle Arena on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. (Grace McDowell)

Western Kentucky might get a key player back in time for the Hilltoppers’ home men’s basketball matchup against Conference USA rival Middle Tennessee on Saturday.

WKU coach Hank Plona said during Monday’s weekly news conference that redshirt sophomore guard Teagan Moore, the team’s leading scorer this season with 17.2 points per game, continues to progress recovering from a concussion suffered late in a 76-69 loss to Liberty on Jan. 21 at E.A. Diddle Arena.

Moore hasn’t played since, missing the last five games as the Tops have gone 2-3 in that span.

“I think he’s moving in the right direction,” Plona said. “I think there’s a chance for Saturday night. Again guys, he had a concussion so it’s all based on how he feels. He’s doing workouts, we have a plan for him this week and if he continues to feel that he does not have anymore headaches or migraines or things like that, he’s moving in the right direction but obviously that can always change.”

Plona said Moore, a 6-foot-5 native of Dry Ridge, has completed the first phase of the concussion protocol and has been lifting and some non-contact shooting drills. Moore, who missed all last season as a medical redshirt as he rehabilitated from hip surgery, could be a full-go for practice by Thursday if he continues to avoid setbacks.

“He’s a player on our team that needs to get healthy and we want him to get healthy,” Plona said. “He’s an important part of our team. He’ll help us if he’s healthy. We’ll keep taking care of his best interests as good as we can, but I’d say as of right now we’re as optimistic as we’ve been that he’s on the right track to be back on the court.”

Plona said he doesn’t have a set policy on minimum number of practices before clearing players for games, but even if Moore is good to go Saturday he’s likely going to eased back into the lineup as he works back into game shape.

No I don’t, but I’m not going to put him out there if I don’t think he’s completely good to go and feels right,” Plona said.

REDSHIRT FOR SEMONA?

Plona said junior forward Louie Semona, who hasn’t played since a back issue flared up in mid-December, will likely take a medical redshirt season.

The 6-8 Cincinnati native is playing his first season with the Hilltoppers after transferring from NCAA Division II Stonehill, where he averaged 13.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game last season.

Semona got off to a slow start and earned limited minutes through much of the non-conference schedule, but had a breakout performance against Campbellsville on Dec. 15. In a season-high 21 minutes, Semona scored 16 points including a 4-for-5 effort from 3-point range. He also tallied four steals, three assists and three rebounds in the Tops’ 102-59 win.

Semona didn’t play as much the following game – an 82-81 home loss to Tulsa – but did make an impact by hitting both of his 3-point attempts for six points in nine minutes. That was the last time Semona has played this season.

“For his long-term health and well-being, he’s eligible for that so yeah I would think that’s likely,” Plona said of redshirting Semona. “ … If we continue to have healthy bodies, I can’t imagine playing him in a game to ruin that for him as the right thing to do for his career and life and all that. So if somehow we lose a couple guys and there’s a role that would be substantial to help our team … but I won’t play him just five minutes in a couple games here and there.”

BOYDE STILL OUT

Plona also updated the status of senior forward/center Noah Boyde, who has not played since the Tops’ road loss to Sam Houston on Jan. 24.

Both Boyde and senior guard Cam Haffner didn’t appear in the next three games, although Haffner was available and with the team while Boyde was not with the squad. Haffner, who practiced with the Tops during that stretch, re-emerged with a stellar outing in Saturday’s 80-70 home win against FIU. The Westfield, Indiana, native hit four 3-pointers and scored 16 points in 22 minutes.

Boyde, a 7-footer from Monchy, St. Lucia, has been held out of practice since the Tops returned from the Sam Houston game. Plona hopes Boyde can also return as an impactful player for the team this season.

“Noah and I are going to have a discussion today and I know Noah wants to be an important part of our team and moving forward,” Plona said. “So hopefully there will be some clarity on that here in the next couple days. But yeah, I’m optimistic about that.”

Boyde started 11 straight games for the Tops, including the loss at Sam Houston, although his minutes significantly dropped over the last two appearances. Boyde is averaging 3.2 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in his first season at WKU after transferring from LSU.

WKU will host MTSU on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Diddle Arena. The game will be live streamed on ESPN+.

About Jeff Nations

Sports Editor, Bowling Green Daily News

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