The redshirt junior guard finished with four points, three steals, one rebound, three turnovers – and most importantly to Stansbury, no assists – in a 66-58 loss to then-No. 5 Villanova.
“That’s as bad as I’ve seen him play in any practice or game we’ve had,” Stansbury said following the Nov. 22 defeat.
Two nights later, Bearden turned in the best game of his short Hilltopper career. He posted 14 points, six assists, five steals and one rebound against four turnovers, as WKU edged Southern Methodist 63-61.
Stansbury hopes that performance Friday against the Mustangs gives Bearden some confidence when he takes the floor Wednesday against Eastern Kentucky.