Western Kentucky will take the court twice more without one of its most experienced players.
The Hilltoppers have two games left before guard Lamonte Bearden is eligible to return Dec. 16 vs. Troy.
Bearden was ruled academically ineligible before the season began. He’s already missed seven games this year for WKU (4-3) and will sit out two more – Wednesday night at Missouri State (7 p.m., ESPN+) and Saturday at Arkansas.
With Bearden unable to play in games, coach Rick Stansbury said the redshirt senior has practiced with what he calls the gold team, which is the Toppers’ scout squad.