Thompson’s Triple-Double Sparks WKU MBB 112-87 Rout at Marshall

WKU senior guard Darius Thompson recorded the second triple-double in program history Saturday night, and the Hilltoppers scored their most points since 1994 in a 112-87 rout at Marshall.

Thompson finished with 33 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in 36 minutes, joining former WKU great Orlando Mendez-Valdez (Jan. 1, 2009 vs. Troy) as the only Hilltoppers with a triple-double.

Thompson’s 33 points were a career high and the most by a WKU player since Aaron Cosby’s 34 against LA Tech on March 5, 2016. He also made a career-high six 3-pointers.

WKU (11-5) has started 3-0 in league play for the third time in four years. The win broke Marshall’s four-game winning streak over the Hilltoppers and was WKU’s first victory in Huntington since 2004.

The 112 points were the program’s most since scoring 113 against Belmont on Dec. 10, 1994.

WKU dominated the game in every facet, shooting 62.5 percent from the field and tallying a season-high 28 assists on 45 baskets with 12 turnovers.

The 28 assists were also the Hilltoppers’ most since dishing out 28 in that 1994 win over Belmont, and the 62.5 percent shooting was the program’s highest in a game since firing 63.9 percent against Louisiana-Monroe on Jan. 31, 2007.

The Hilltoppers outrebounded Marshall 53-26, outscored the Herd 70-20 in the paint and shot 67.7 percent from the field in the second half.

Senior forward Justin Johnson scored a career-high 27 points with eight rebounds and a season-high four assists on 11 of 16 shooting. Senior forward Dwight Coleby had his sixth double-double with 18 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks.

Freshman guard Josh Anderson, who was ruled eligible by the NCAA on Friday, had 16 points and four rebounds in his college debut. Freshman guard Taveion Hollingsworth chipped in 12 points, and redshirt junior guard Lamonte Bearden finished with six points and seven assists.

WKU never trailed in the game and led by as much as 34 with 13:22 to play.

The Hilltoppers led 61-35 at halftime, sparked by a 10-1 run to start the outing. This was the second time this season that WKU has scored at least 60 points in a half, following its 62-point first half against Nicholls on Nov. 19.

Jarrod West had 20 points to lead Marshall (11-5, 2-1 C-USA), which made 18 of 37 3-pointers.

The Hilltoppers stay on the road with a visit to Old Dominion at 7 p.m. CT Thursday in Norfolk, Va.

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