Tops look to extend strong opener against KWC
Published 8:25 pm Wednesday, November 4, 2026
1/2
Swipe or click to see more
Western Kentucky’s EJ Walker (6) drives against Morehead State’s Izaiah Day (23) and Clayton Parker (33) in WKU’s 83-58 home win over Morehead State University on Monday, Nov. 2.
(JACK DOBBS / Daily News)
2/2
Swipe or click to see more
Western Kentucky’s Gabe Weis (11) defends Morehead State’s Davion Cunningham (22) in WKU’s 83-58 home win over Morehead State University on Monday, Nov. 2.
(JACK DOBBS / Daily News)
Western Kentucky passed the first test of the 2026-27 season with flying colors Monday night, routing Morehead State for a 25-point season-opening victory at E.A. Diddle Arena.
The Hilltoppers return to their home floor for the next test Thursday night when Kentucky Wesleyan makes the short trip down from Owensboro.
Perhaps the most pressing question to answer? Can the Tops sustain the high level of play they displayed in Monday’s 83-58 win into the next game?
WKU third-year coach Hank Plona said his team hasn’t lacked for energy and intensity since the Tops’ close exhibition loss on a neutral floor to Indiana on Oct. 25 in Evansville, Indiana. That “juiced up” mentality showed up in a big way against the Eagles on Monday night.
“I thought we were a little too juiced up, if anything,” Plona said. “So yeah, a couple guys just trying to get them to settle in just a little bit, but you’d rather have to reel somebody in than wake up a corpse. So it’s a good problem to have, especially early in the season. They’ll find their rhythm, and I thought we certainly did as the game went on.”
WKU (1-0) looks to maintain that rhythm against the NCAA Division II Panthers in Thursday’s 6:30 p.m. matchup at Diddle. Kentucky Wesleyan, led by ninth-year head coach Drew Cooper, will be making its season debut. The matchup is approaching annual status, with the Tops facing the Panthers four straight years now – KWC plays the game as an exhibition, while WKU counts it as a regular-season contest. The Tops won the previous three meetings by at least 20 points each time, including last year’s season opening 82-43 win at Diddle.
Email newsletter signup
The Panthers were picked to finish fifth in the Great Midwestern Athletic Conference preseason coaches poll this season, a year after finishing seventh in the 12-team lead.
KWC returns plenty on the team who played against the Tops last year, including guard Jorge Sanchez-Ramos – who tallied a team-high nine points in the loss – along with a pair of players with local ties in senior guard Boden Bates (Edmonson County graduate) and sophomore guard Briar Griffin (Butler County graduate).
It could be a battle of former Bears on Thursday, with WKU redshirt freshman guard Lawson Rice – also a Butler County grad – available to play against high old high school teammate.
Rice, who sat out last season as a medical redshirt, was one of 10 players making their Hilltopper debut on Monday. Even with so many newcomers to the roster, Plona found little fault in his team’s defensive intensity or overall discipline running the offense and moving the ball around.
“I thought it was solid – I mean, I’m going to show them 20 possessions where the ball could have continued to move, but I don’t think it’s lack of intent,” Plona said. “I think it’s just continuing to learn the different spots and spacing and movement and stuff like that. I think the guys are trying to make plays for one another. I think everybody does want to see other guys succeed and score.”
About Jeff Nations
Sports Editor, Bowling Green Daily News
More by Jeff
