Under the Radar Game of the Day: Western Kentucky at Belmont

Western Kentucky at Belmont, 8:00 PM Eastern, ovcsports.com

The Under the Radar Game of the Day heads to Nashville, Tennessee this evening for a non-conference matchup between Western Kentucky, out of Conference USA, and Belmont, out of the Ohio Valley Conference.  Head coach Rick Standbury’s visiting Hilltoppers enter play tonight a perfect 2-0 on the season, having scored home wins over Alabama State and Jacksonville State.  His team has been led so far by a trio of transfers, Que Johnson from Washington State, Junior Lomomba from Providence and Pancake Thomas from Hartford.  All three have hit double digits at least once so far, and when combined with top returnee Justin Johnson (17 point and 10 boards last time out), have helped form a very solid core group of players for the Hilltoppers.

WKU will certainly be tested tonight in their first road game as Rick Byrd’s Belmont team was our preseason pick to win the Ohio Valley Conference.  The Bruins have only played one game so far this season, falling at Vanderbilt 80-66.  Evan Bradds led the way for the Bruins in their loss, scoring 19 points while pulling down 8 rebounds.  Amanze Egekeze added 18 points and Austin Luke dished out 6 assists in the losing effort as well.  Despite the 14 point loss, Belmont actually outscored Vanderbilt in the second half of the game and should be ready tonight for the Hilltoppers in what could be one of the best games on this evening’s entire college basketball schedule.