Lamonte Bearden brought a different dimension to Western Kentucky when he stepped on the floor for the first time Friday night.
Bearden was the catalyst for WKU’s comeback from a 26-4 hole early against Missouri State. The 6-foot-3 guard showcased his abilities to take the basketball and drive straight to the basket.
Bearden’s game-high 24 points weren’t enough for the Hilltoppers, who fell 85-80 in their season opener. But his performance showed why coach Rick Stansbury used a scholarship last summer to bring the guard in as a transfer after his sophomore year at Buffalo.
Bearden arrived at his 24 points with marks of 6-of-12 from the floor, 3-of-3 from 3-point range and 9-of-10 from the foul stripe.