Western Kentucky will take the court twice more without one of its most experienced players.

The Hilltoppers have two games left before guard Lamonte Bearden is eligible to return Dec. 16 against Troy.

Bearden was ruled academically ineligible before the season began. He’s already missed seven games this year for WKU (4-3) and will sit out two more – Wednesday night at Missouri State (7 p.m., ESPN+) and Saturday at Arkansas.

With Bearden unable to play in games, coach Rick Stansbury said the redshirt senior has practiced with what he calls the gold team, which is the Toppers’ scout squad.

Stansbury said Monday on his weekly radio show that lately, Bearden has “been the best he’s been” since transferring from Buffalo to WKU in 2016.

“If he continues to practice and play the way he’s playing, then he’s going to help us a bunch,” Stansbury said.

The return of Bearden will be welcome for the Hilltoppers, who’ve been up and down through seven games.

As of Tuesday night, WKU ranked No. 99 of 353 Division I teams in both adjusted offensive efficiency (106.9 points scored per 100 possessions, adjusted for opponent) and adjusted defensive efficiency (99.9 points allowed per 100 possessions, adjusted for opponent), per Ken Pomeroy.

Last year, the Tops ranked 40th offensively (114.5) and 82nd defensively (100.1).

Bearden plays point guard and Stansbury has tinkered to find the right fit at that spot without him.

Starter Josh Anderson and reserve Dalano Banton played most of those minutes the first six games. Stansbury moved guard Taveion Hollingsworth over to point guard for WKU’s last game, an 88-74 home victory Saturday over Tennessee State.

Hollingsworth scored 19 points in that win, going 5-of-11 from the floor, 2-for-4 from 3-point range and 7-of-9 from the free-throw line. The sophomore posted three assists, three rebounds and a steal but also turned the ball over six times at E.A. Diddle Arena.

“We know he’s wired to score,” Stansbury said of Hollingsworth. “That’s No. 1. He’s not going to throw it through a keyhole and that’s OK.

“The things I know about him, you’ve got to guard him in transition. He’s got the ability to get it to the rim, draw fouls, come off a ball screen when you make a mistake, pull up and shoot a 3 … and shoot it mid-range. His abilities to score, he can score at all three levels. We weren’t getting a lot of that before consistently.”

When Bearden returns later this month, that’ll allow Stansbury to move Hollingsworth back to his natural spot, which is shooting guard.

Bearden averaged 11.8 points, 3.4 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game in 2017-18 with 65 steals, seventh-most by a WKU player in a single season.

The Milwaukee native entered the 2018 NBA Draft following his redshirt junior season but backed out in May and decided to return to the Topper program.

Academic issues from the spring semester led to Bearden being ineligible to play in games until after the fall semester ends. WKU has two more contests before that date arrives, starting Wednesday in Springfield, Mo., against the Bears (3-5).

“We all know (Bearden) adds a couple of things we need,” Stansbury said. “We need some feel, the ability to pass that basketball and move that basketball a little bit, the ability to get some easy baskets, easy plays for other people. He can do both those things.

“He’s coming in and will have 20-something-odd games to play in his career. He’s down to a few hours from graduating now. I think after this semester, he needs 16 hours to graduate. So that’s a plus for him.

“If he can continue doing what he’s doing and keep getting better, he’s got a chance to help us tremendously. That’s where we need some help at right now.”

Notes

WKU has made a 3-pointer in 983 straight games dating to March 15, 1987. … Missouri State’s roster includes former Middle Tennessee guard Tyrik Dixon. He’s sitting out this season as a transfer and will be eligible to play for the Bears starting in 2019-20. … The Hilltoppers rank 17th nationally in blocked shots per game (5.6) and 12th across Division I in percentage of opponents’ shots blocked (16.1), according to Ken Pomeroy. … WKU is 40-1 under Stansbury when leading with five minutes to play. … As of Monday, center Charles Bassey ranked third in the country among freshmen for rebounds per game (9.6).

Western Kentucky (4-3) at Missouri State (3-5)

7 p.m. Wednesday, JQH Arena, Springfield, Mo.

Probable starters

Western Kentucky

Josh Anderson, g, 6-6, so. (6.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg); Taveion Hollingsworth, g, 6-2, so. (16.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg); Jared Savage, g/f, 6-5, r-jr. (15.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg); Desean Murray, f, 6-4, g-sr. (11 ppg, 4.7 rpg); Charles Bassey, c, 6-11, fr. (13.3 ppg, 9.6 rpg)

Missouri State

Jarred Dixon, g, 6-1, jr. (17.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg); Tulio Da Silva, f, 6-8, jr. (16.7 ppg, 7 rpg); Ryan Kreklow, g, 6-4, sr. (7.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg); Josh Webster, g, 6-3, sr. (6.6 ppg, 5 apg); Obediah Church, f, 6-8, sr. (6.9 ppg, 6 rpg)

Broadcast

ESPN+

Radio

100.7-FM

Coaches

Rick Stansbury (46-31, third year; 339-197 overall), Western Kentucky; Dana Ford (3-5, first year; 60-70 overall), Missouri State

Series record

Missouri State leads 1-0 (MSU won last meeting 85-80 on Nov. 10, 2017, in Bowling Green)

Last time out

Western Kentucky beat Tennessee State 88-74 at home Saturday; Missouri State lost 101-77 at Oregon State on Saturday