Recap: Western Ky vs. FIU

Bowling Green, KY (Sports Network) - George Fant finished with a game-high 24 points as he helped guide the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers to a 76-63 win over the FIU Panthers in Sun Belt Conference action at E.A. Diddle Arena.

Shooting 5-of-8 behind the 3-point line, Kevin Kaspar added 17 points off the bench for the Hilltoppers (9-5, 3-0 SBC) as they snapped a three-game slide. Brandon Harris responded with 13 points, a game-high 10 rebounds and six assists, while T.J. Price tacked on 12 points and five dishes of his own.

The Panthers (4-6, 1-2) were paced by Malik Smith who dropped in 20 points, followed by Jerome Frink and Tymell Murphy with 15 and 14 points, respectively, as they bowed for the third time in four games.

Both teams shot the ball well from the floor in the first half, WKU hitting at a 53.8 percent clip and the Panthers 48.1 percent, and thanks to 6-of-12 accuracy behind the 3-point line in the frame, the visitors were able to lock up the score at 33-33 at the break.

In the second half the Hilltoppers pulled away on the strength of 55.0 percent accuracy from the field and 16-of-19 at the free-throw line in order to secure the 13-point win.

In a game that featured four ties and seven lead changes, Western Kentucky finished the meeting by converting 54.3 percent from the field.