BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) -Behind a career-high 28 points from Teagan Moore, WKU erased a double-digit deficit to down Sam Houston 102-91 in Friday’s CUSA home opener. After trailing 49-42 at the break, they would close the gap on a Moore half-court buzzer-beater. the Hilltoppers (8-5, 1-1 CUSA) erupted for 60 second-half points.
WKU dominated the glass, parlaying 49 rebounds into 33 second-chance points. Trailing by nine early in the second frame, the Tops ignited a 21-5 run to seize control. Armelo Boone anchored the effort with a 16-point, 13-rebound double-double, while Moore’s career night kept the Sam Houston Bearkats (8-5, 0-2 CUSA) at bay.
How It Happened
The Bearkats jumped out to a 7-0 lead and controlled the first 25 minutes, at one point leading 42-28. Whenever WKU threatened, Sam Houston answered, but a late first-half surge from Ryan Myers, who scored 11 of his 18 points in the first kept the Hilltoppers within reach. WKU went into the locker room down 49-42, thanks to a remarkable half-court heave from Moore that beat the buzzer.
Momentum carried into the second half. After falling behind early, WKU sparked a 21-5 run to take their first lead at 69-62, with Moore scoring nine points and Armelo Boone and Noah Boyde controlling the paint. In the closing minutes, Sam Houston briefly reclaimed a 70-69 lead, but WKU answered with a clinical 23-9 run, fueled by timely triples from Myers and Grant Newell (12 points) and Moore’s efficiency at the rim, putting the game away.
Turning Point: The Second Half Surge
The 21-5 run early in the second half, sparked by Moore and Myers, allowed WKU to take control and carry the momentum through the final minutes
WKU head coach Hank Plona acknowledged that while the performance wasn’t always pretty, the resilience shown by his squad was the difference-maker.
“I thought we showed a lot of toughness and grit,” Plona said. “Once we were forced to, had our backs against the wall, I thought we responded very, very well. [Sam Houston] has been about the best team in Conference USA, and it’s good that our guys proved to themselves they can battle and not only battle but come out on top.”
WKU wraps up its two-game homestand this Sunday, Jan. 4, as Louisiana Tech visits E.A. Diddle Arena. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m., with live coverage streaming on ESPN+.
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