Jhivvan Jackson will return Wednesday to the building where he scored more points in one game than any opponent ever has.

The Texas-San Antonio guard dropped 46 points Jan. 31 against Western Kentucky – most all-time by a player facing the Hilltoppers in E.A. Diddle Arena.

WKU (18-12 overall, 11-6 Conference USA) notched a 96-88 overtime victory that night behind 22 points each from center Charles Bassey and guard Lamonte Bearden. But Jackson’s prolific outing is still fresh on the Toppers’ minds.

“He was making every shot,” the freshman Bassey recalled Tuesday.

Jackson and the Roadrunners (16-13, 10-6) are back in Bowling Green for WKU’s regular-season finale. BeIN Sports will broadcast Wednesday’s 6:30 p.m. matchup from Diddle Arena.

The Hilltoppers will look to send Bearden, their lone senior, out with a victory in his final game on the team’s home floor. A victory would also help WKU improve its positioning for the league tourney.

Coach Rick Stansbury’s squad already clinched a first-round bye for next week’s Conference USA Tournament. That came thanks to a 76-71 home win Sunday vs. Southern Mississippi.

Now the Tops can clinch the No. 2 seed for that event – which begins March 13 in Frisco, Texas – with a win over UTSA.

“This time of year, every game you play is basically coming down to your last one,” said Stansbury, whose team has won two games in a row. “There’s got to be urgency in you this time of year.”

WKU knows the defensive challenges that stand between it and a third straight victory Wednesday night.

Jackson averages 22.8 points per game for the season and a league-best 24.1 ppg in C-USA play. His fellow sophomore guard Keaton Wallace averages 21.2 ppg for the year and 23.6 ppg in conference action, which ranks second only to Jackson.

“They’re two quick guards,” the redshirt senior Bearden said. “They know how to play the game. They’re only sophomores. …

“They just come with a lot of fire, a lot of competitiveness. They’re real good out there.”

Jackson’s 46 points in the teams’ first meeting broke a Diddle Arena opponent record set in 1969 by Harley Swift of East Tennessee State. Jackson shot 16-of-31 from the floor, 8-of-14 from 3-point range and 6-of-8 from the line in 44 minutes.

Wallace was overshadowed by Jackson, but he still scored 26 points and hit seven 3s.

“Again, everyone thinks Jackson is the shooter,” Stansbury said. “Wallace is the better shooter. …

“Jackson’s a better scorer – off that bounce, floaters, getting to the rim. He’s just tough to keep in front of you. There haven’t been a lot of people keep him in front of them. That’s why he averages 24 points a game.

“So we definitely need to do a better job than we did last time. He does not need to get 46 again against us and us win this game.”

Bassey: ‘I’m feeling good’

WKU beat Southern Miss on Sunday without Bassey playing at 100 percent health.

The Hilltoppers’ star big man landed awkwardly Thursday in a win at Alabama-Birmingham and tweaked his right knee. He was questionable leading up to Sunday’s game, Stansbury said, but played and finished with nine points, seven rebounds and four blocks.

Bassey was asked Wednesday about his health ahead of the matchup with UTSA.

“Every day, the trainer keeps checking me and making sure I’m OK,” the Lagos, Nigeria, native Bassey said.

“I’m feeling good. I’m going to be good tomorrow for the game.”

Bassey’s put together averages of 14.9 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks during league play while shooting 61.7 percent from the field – best in C-USA – and 79 percent from the line.

He’s done so while banging in the low post each game, usually facing more than one opponent at a time.

“They’re down there beating him up,” Bearden said of Bassey. “He’s beating them up too. …

“He’s a big guy and he tries to be physical. For the most part, he holds his own down there.”

Notes

WKU has hit at least one 3-pointer in 1,006 straight games dating back to March 15, 1987. … If the Hilltoppers can earn the No. 2 seed in the Conference USA Tournament, it would be their highest finish in five years in C-USA, as well as their highest finish overall since claiming the No. 2 seed in the Sun Belt Conference in 2014. … Guard Taveion Hollingsworth needs just 63 points to reach 1,000 for his career. … Guard Josh Anderson is one of 10 players in the country with at least 120 total rebounds, 50 steals and 21 blocks this season. He’s the only player from Conference USA to reach those marks. … Bassey ranks fifth on WKU’s single-season blocked shots list (72) and third on the school’s freshman scoring list (443 points). Bassey already owns program freshman records for blocks and rebounds (297).

Texas-San Antonio (16-13, 10-6) at Western Kentucky (18-12, 11-6)

6:30 p.m. Wednesday, E.A. Diddle Arena

Probable starters

UTSA

Jhivvan Jackson, g, 6-0, so. (22.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg); Keaton Wallace, g, 6-3, so. (21.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg); Giovanni De Nicolao, g, 6-3, jr. (7.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg); Atem Bior, f, 6-7, jr. (5.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg); Byron Frohnen, f, 6-6, jr. (6.7 ppg, 7 rpg)

Western Kentucky

Lamonte Bearden, g, 6-3, r-sr. (9.2 ppg, 4.2 apg); Taveion Hollingsworth, g, 6-2, so. (14.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg); Josh Anderson, g, 6-6, so. (12.2 ppg, 4 rpg); Jared Savage, g/f, 6-5, r-jr. (12.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg); Charles Bassey, c, 6-11, fr. (14.8 ppg, 9.9 rpg)

Broadcast

BeIN Sports

Radio

100.7-FM

Coaches

Steve Henson (50-47, third year; 50-47 overall), UTSA; Rick Stansbury (60-40, third year; 353-206 overall), Western Kentucky

Series record

WKU leads 4-2 (WKU won last meeting 96-88 in overtime Jan. 31 in Bowling Green)

Last time out

UTSA beat Alabama-Birmingham 76-70 at home Sunday; WKU beat Southern Mississippi 76-71 at home Sunday{&end}