Western Kentucky holds off Bowling Green 65-62 in exhibition opener
Teagan Moore scored 22 points as the Hilltoppers survived a second-half rally at E.A. Diddle Arena. The exhibition win does not count toward their regular-season record.
Western Kentucky held off Bowling Green State 65-62 in a men's basketball exhibition at E.A. Diddle Arena in Bowling Green, Kentucky, on Tuesday night, October 20. The Hilltoppers survived a second-half rally to win their first exhibition of the 2026-27 season, with Teagan Moore scoring a game-high 22 points.
How Western Kentucky held its lead
Western Kentucky led 29-24 at halftime, then stretched its advantage to 41-28 early in the second half. Bowling Green fought back and cut the margin to one point, turning what had been a comfortable lead into a close finish. The Hilltoppers stayed ahead through the closing minutes.
LJ Hackman converted a three-point play with about 1:17 remaining to put Western Kentucky up 62-57. Josiah Shackelford later made a three-pointer that brought Bowling Green within 64-62 with 50 seconds left. Hackman made one of two free throws with 6.3 seconds remaining, and KJ Torbert missed a three-point attempt that would have tied the game at the end, the Messenger-Inquirer reported.
Moore's 22 points led Western Kentucky, while Sharron Young scored 11 and Hackman added 10. WBKO reported that Hackman also collected eight rebounds. For Bowling Green, Shackelford scored 16 points, Torbert had 12 and Tristan Beckford added 10, according to the Messenger-Inquirer.
The Falcons' shooting made their comeback harder to complete: they made 36% of their field-goal attempts, six of 25 three-point attempts and 14 of 30 free throws, the Messenger-Inquirer reported. Western Kentucky shot 39% from the field and was outrebounded 45-39, according to the same report. Those figures help explain why the lead remained vulnerable even after the Hilltoppers' strong start to the second half.
What the exhibition means for WKU's season
Western Kentucky coach Hank Plona described the game as a chance to learn as well as win. ‘We executed well enough to get the win — obviously, there's a lot we can learn from this game, and that's why we play them,’ he said, according to the Messenger-Inquirer. He credited Moore and Hackman's resolve late in the game.
WBKO reported that the result leaves Western Kentucky 1-0 in exhibition play but does not count toward its 2026-27 regular-season record. The Hilltoppers are scheduled to play their final exhibition against Indiana at the Ford Center in Evansville on Sunday, October 25, at 3 p.m. CT. Their regular-season opener is scheduled for November 2 at home against Morehead State, the Messenger-Inquirer reported.
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Sources and context
- WKU wins "Battle for Bowling Green"Messenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, Ky. (republished by Yahoo Sports)
- Hilltoppers defeat Falcons 65-62 in Battle for Bowling Green exhibitionWBKO
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.