The lowdown:
First-time starter Victor Uyaelunmo was also the first on the board for USC with a dunk as the Trojans and Hilltoppers traded baskets in the early going.
Though he didn’t start the game, Elijah Stewart put up 10 quick points off the bench, while Justin Johnson’s 10 for WKU kept it close.
Jonah Mathews’ corner three set off a 10-2 Trojan run, highlighted by Jordan McLaughlin’s pinpoint delivery from halfcourt on a fastbreak alley-oop to Elijah Stewart, giving the Trojans a 23-18 advantage after one quarter.
USC’s lead swelled to seven early in the second quarter, but WKU whittled it down thanks in part to Jake Ohmer’s sharpshooting from distance.