HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — Darius Thompson collected Western Kentucky’s first triple-double in nine years, and the Hilltoppers scored a program record with their 112-87 victory over Marshall on Saturday night.
Thompson had career highs in all three categories: 33 points on 11-of-16 shooting, including six 3-pointers; 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. It was the first triple-double at Western Kentucky since Orlando Mendez-Valdez had one against Troy on Jan. 1, 2009.
Western Kentucky (11-5, 3-0 Conference USA), which has won four straight, put up its previous-best of 100 points in its 20-point win against Nicholls on Nov. 19.
Taveion Hollingsworth added a career-high 27 points, and Dwight Coleby chipped in 18 points and 14 rebounds for the Hilltoppers, who had a 21-point lead midway through the first half on their way to a 61-35 halftime advantage.
Jarrod West scored 20 points to lead Marshall (11-5, 2-1). C.J. Burks added 19 points, and Jon Elmore and Jannson Williams added 18 points apiece.Marshall box
W. KENTUCKY 112, MARSHALL 87
W. KENTUCKY (11-5)
Coleby 8-14 2-2 18, Johnson 12-17 2-5 27, Hollingsworth 5-10 2-3 12, Bearden 3-4 0-0 6, Thompson 11-16 5-6 33, Nelson 0-0 0-0 0, Miller 0-0 0-2 0, Anderson 6-8 4-9 16, Ohmer 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 45-72 15-27 112.
MARSHALL (11-5)
Penava 0-3 1-2 1, Mijovic 0-0 0-0 0, Burks 6-22 3-5 19, J.Elmore 5-15 5-6 18, West 6-9 2-2 20, Williams 7-10 0-0 18, Koljanin 1-4 1-2 3, Watson 3-7 1-1 8. Totals 28-70 13-18 87.
Halftime—W. Kentucky 61-35. 3-Point Goals—W. Kentucky 7-14 (Thompson 6-9, Johnson 1-1, Hollingsworth 0-2, Ohmer 0-2), Marshall 18-37 (West 6-9, Williams 4-6, Burks 4-11, J.Elmore 3-6, Watson 1-2, Penava 0-1, Koljanin 0-2). Fouled Out—Watson, Ohmer. Rebounds—W. Kentucky 44 (Coleby 14), Marshall 25 (Williams 6). Assists—W. Kentucky 28 (Thompson 10), Marshall 25 (Burks, J.Elmore 8). Total Fouls—W. Kentucky 20, Marshall 19. A—6,826 (9,048).