W Kentucky routs Charlotte 93-55 on Anderson's career night

Feb 23, 2018, 03:19 am

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- Josh Anderson scored a career-high 19 points, Justin Johnson added 16 and Western Kentucky routed Charlotte 93-55 on Thursday night to lock up a first-round bye in the Conference USA Tournament and sweep the season series against the 49ers.

Dwight Coleby, Taveion Hollingsworth and Darius Thompson scored 12 points apiece for the Hilltoppers (21-7, 13-2), who took an early lead and poured it on, shooting shot 56 percent from the field. Western Kentucky is tied for second place with Old Dominion and can finish no worse than third.

Lamonte Bearden scored 10 points with five of WKU's 19 assists as the Hilltoppers made 32 of 57 attempts from the floor.

Jailan Haslem's dunk put Charlotte up 9-5, but Anderson's layup put the Hilltoppers up for good, 16-14, and they led 47-27 at halftime after scoring 14 straight while the 49ers went scoreless in the final 4:59.

Bearden's free throws capped an 11-2 WKU run for a 30-point lead with seven minutes left and the Hilltoppers won going away.

Jon Davis scored 20 points with six assists and Haslem and Milos Supica added 11 points apiece, with Supica grabbing 11 rebounds for the 49ers (5-21, 1-14), who have lost 13 straight.