Hilltoppers suffer first Conference USA loss at the hands of Louisiana Tech

If I ran Conference USA, I’d have WKU stop playing competitions in Ruston, Louisiana. First, the Hilltoppers football squad drops a hideous game and then the Fella Tops hoops team lose their first ever C-USA game at LA Tech by a final score of 69-56. Ouch.

I say ouch, but somehow – I’m okay with the score. Well, maybe “okay,” isn’t the word. Was it the best game the Hilltoppers played? Heavens no. But, they were able to fight back through several moments throughout the game where it seemed like it was over with, but in the end, they just couldn’t over take the Techsters.

Along with the Tops’ winning streak, George Fant’s double-double streak also came to an end, as he scored 15 points – second most for WKU – but only grabbed four rebounds. And, if you’ll recall from this morning’s previews when I said how key rebounds were for the Tops (the best rebounding squad in the conference) over the 11th-best? Yeah, they didn’t heed that warning and got out-rebounded 39-32.

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lead the way and getting a double double of his own of 17 points and 10 boards, but aside from the 32 points from the seniors, there wasn’t another area of

huge

production.

did piece together a solid game from off the bench, scoring eight points and grabbed five offensive boards.

Louisiana Tech set the pace of the game and did so early and often and really implored their full court press against WKU’s guards, and in the end, forced 16 Hilltoppers’ turnovers and four of the five Tech starters scored in double figures. You’ll be shocked to learn who lead the way, but Alex Hamilton and Raheem Appleby, both with 17.

You’re not going to win every conference game, and that’s alright. There are far worse teams to lose to (like North Texas. I wish that shot still had relevance, but LA Tech won, so…) and the Techsters were the preseason C-USA favorite. The Tops came in with a target on their back, LA Tech took their shot, and were the better team tonight. That’s fair.

Up next is Southern Miss and I’m already licking my chops.