SLIDE SHOW: Tops drop home game to Kennesaw State

Published 4:00 pm Saturday, January 17, 2026

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Western Kentucky Men’s Basketball Coach Hank Plona reacts to a foul against the Hilltoppers in their 81-65 loss to the Kennesaw State Owls at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (GRACE McDOWELL / The Daily News)

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Western Kentucky graduate guard Ryan Myers (4) shoots a layup beside Kennesaw State freshman guard Kaden Rickard (4) in the Hilltoppers’ 81-65 loss to the Owls at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (GRACE McDOWELL / The Daily News)

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Western Kentucky junior guard LJ Hackman (2) dunks the ball in the Hilltoppers’ 81-65 loss to the Kennesaw State Owls at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (GRACE McDOWELL / The Daily News)

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Western Kentucky senior forward Grant Newell (8) shoots a layup over Kennesaw State sophomore forward Braedan Lue (13) in the Hilltoppers’ 81-65 loss to the Owls at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (GRACE McDOWELL / The Daily News)

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Western Kentucky freshman guard Armelo Boone (12) shoots a three-pointer over Kennesaw State junior forward Frankquon Sherman (6) in the Hilltoppers’ 81-65 loss to the Owls at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (GRACE McDOWELL / The Daily News)

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Western Kentucky redshirt sophomore guard Teagan Moore (30) shoots a layup as Kennesaw State junior forward Frankquon Sherman (6) jumps over to block in the Hilltoppers’ 81-65 loss to the Owls at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (GRACE McDOWELL / The Daily News)

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Western Kentucky junior guard LJ Hackman (2) shoots a layup in front of Kennesaw State freshman guard Kaden Rickard (4) in the Hilltoppers’ 81-65 loss to the Owls at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (GRACE McDOWELL / The Daily News)

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Western Kentucky senior forward Grant Newell (8) shoots a layup in the Hilltoppers’ 81-65 loss to the Kennesaw State Owls at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (GRACE McDOWELL / The Daily News)

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Western Kentucky graduate guard Ryan Myers (4) moves the ball past Kennesaw State freshman guard Kaden Rickard (4) in the Hilltoppers’ 81-65 loss to the Owls at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (GRACE McDOWELL / The Daily News)

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Western Kentucky freshman guard Armelo Boone (12) gets fouled by Kennesaw State freshman guard Kaden Rickard (4) as he shoots a layup in the Hilltoppers’ 81-65 loss to the Owls at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (GRACE McDOWELL / The Daily News)

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Western Kentucky junior guard LJ Hackman (2) shoots the ball over Kennesaw State freshman guard Kaden Rickard (4) in the Hilltoppers’ 81-65 loss to the Owls at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (GRACE McDOWELL / The Daily News)

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Western Kentucky redshirt sophomore guard Teagan Moore (30) moves the ball past Kennesaw State sophomore forward Braedan Lue (13) and freshman guard Kaden Rickard (4) in the Hilltoppers’ 81-65 loss to the Owls at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (GRACE McDOWELL / The Daily News)

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Western Kentucky redshirt sophomore guard Teagan Moore (30) shoots a layup between Kennesaw State freshman forward Trey Simpson (2) and sophomore forward Braedan Lue (13) in the Hilltoppers’ 81-65 loss to the Owls at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (GRACE McDOWELL / The Daily News)

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Western Kentucky senior forward Grant Newell (8) shoots a three-pointer over Kennesaw State freshman forward Trey Simpson (2) and sophomore forward Braedan Lue (13) in the Hilltoppers’ 81-65 loss to the Owls at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (GRACE McDOWELL / The Daily News)

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Western Kentucky graduate guard Terrion Murdix (11) shoots a layup as Kennesaw State redshirt sophomore guard RJ Johnson (11) reaches to block in the Hilltoppers’ 81-65 loss to the Owls at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (GRACE McDOWELL / The Daily News)

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Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Men’s Basketball Coach Hank Plona gives instructions on the sidelines at the start of the Hilltoppers’ 81-65 loss to the Kennesaw State Owls at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (GRACE McDOWELL / The Daily News)

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Western Kentucky junior guard LJ Hackman (2) shoots a three-pointer in the Hilltoppers’ 81-65 loss to the Kennesaw State Owls at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (GRACE McDOWELL / The Daily News)

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Western Kentucky redshirt sophomore guard Teagan Moore (30) shoots a layup beside Kennesaw State junior forward Frankquon Sherman (6) in the Hilltoppers’ 81-65 loss to the Owls at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (GRACE McDOWELL / The Daily News)

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Western Kentucky senior forward Grant Newell (8) shoots a three-pointer over Kennesaw State junior forward Frankquon Sherman (6) in the Hilltoppers’ 81-65 loss to the Owls at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (GRACE McDOWELL / The Daily News)

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Western Kentucky graduate guard Ryan Myers (4) shoots a three-pointer over Kennesaw State freshman guard Darius Washington III (3) in the Hilltoppers’ 81-65 loss to the Owls at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (GRACE McDOWELL / The Daily News)

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Western Kentucky redshirt sophomore guard Teagan Moore (30) tries to wrestle the ball away from Kennesaw State junior forward Frankquon Sherman (6) in the Hilltoppers’ 81-65 loss to the Owls at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (GRACE McDOWELL / The Daily News)

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Western Kentucky freshman guard Armelo Boone (12) shoots the ball over Kennesaw State fifth year guard Jaden Harris (21) in the Hilltoppers’ 81-65 loss to the Owls at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (GRACE McDOWELL / The Daily News)

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers lost 81-65 to the Kennesaw State Owls at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. The Tops fall to 1-1 in the current 3-game homestand, and will face C-USA preseason favorite Liberty at Diddle on Wednesday.