Hollingsworth leads balanced Hilltoppers past Indiana State

Dec 16, 2017, 07:56 pm

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- Lamonte Bearden scored one second after the opening tip and Western Kentucky led wire-to-wire on Saturday, with five players reaching double figures and defeating Indiana State 81-65 in a game that was moved up to accommodate the Hilltoppers' football bowl game.

Taveion Hollingsworth led Western Kentucky with 19 points, Darius Thompson added 17, Justin Johnson 15, Dwight Coleby 11 and Bearden 10. The Hilltoppers (7-4) shot 57 percent from the floor (30 of 53), made 11 steals and scored 21 points off 20 Indiana State turnovers.

Western Kentucky has placed five in double figures in seven of 11 games. The Hilltoppers snapped a two-game skid, including an 81-80 loss at Wisconsin on a controversial last-second foul.

Nearly half Indiana State's shots were taken from distance (27 of 60) and the Sycamores (5-6) made 11 treys with Brenton Scott and Jordan Barnes hitting four each. Six of Indiana State's last seven baskets came from 3.

Scott led Indiana State with 16 points, Barnes and Qiydar Davis with 12 each.