GAME NOTES: Longtime rivals Western Kentucky and Murray State are set to square off in non-league action at the CFSB Center on Saturday night.

Western Kentucky has rebounded from a three-game slide by winning its last two contests. Most recently, the Hilltoppers notched a 62-52 victory over Bowling Green on Wednesday. This is the first of two straight road games before they return to campus for a seven-game homestand.

Murray State has also earned back-to-back wins on the heels of three straight losses. The Racers were also in action on Wednesday night against Bethel (TN) and came away with a 102-66 victory. Following this tilt they will take next week off for final exams.

Western Kentucky owns a 96-55 series lead over the Racers, but Murray State has won the last three meetings on its home floor. These former Ohio Valley Conference rivals first played each other in 1932.

The Hilltoppers have held each of their last two opponents under 60 points, and on Wednesday night they became the first team to beat Bowling Green this season. It was certainly not a flawless effort, considering WKU committed 19 turnovers and shot just 3-of-17 from the perimeter. But the Hilltoppers brought it defensively, holding the Falcons to 34.5 percent shooting from the floor in addition to forcing 17 turnovers. George Fant led the way with 14 points, four blocks and six rebounds. T.J. Price (13.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg) tallied 13 points and eight rebounds, while Ben Lawson rounded out the double-digit scorers with 12 points and seven boards.

Murray State boasts a talented small-big tandem of Cameron Payne and Jarvis Williams. Payne is the team's leading scorer with 17.0 ppg, while Williams is second with 14.6 ppg to go along with a team-best 7.5 rebounds per tilt. The Racers are shooting a collective 45 percent from the floor and are putting up 72.8 ppg (+3.6). They simply overwhelmed an overmatched Bethel squad earlier this week, eclipsing 100 points in a regulation game for the first time in five years. Payne tallied a game-high 22 points and seven assists in 21 minutes of action. Jeffery Moss was next in line with 15 points for the Racers, who placed five players in double figures.

The Hilltoppers are playing sound defense of late, but Murray State has had their number at the CFSB Center. Expect another close game between these familiar foes.