Western Kentucky set a new benchmark during the 2018-19 season for its attendance numbers.

The Hilltoppers (18-13 overall, 11-7 Conference USA) averaged 5,809 fans over 14 home games. That represents the program’s highest per-game home attendance since E.A. Diddle Arena underwent a major renovation in 2002-03.

This year’s squad topped the average attendance figure of 5,731 previously set in 2005-06.

“It means everything to us,” forward Marek Nelson said following WKU’s final home game, an 81-76 loss Wednesday to Texas-San Antonio.

“There’s obviously a difference between playing at home and playing on the road. But whenever you know you’ve got the whole city behind us and you know they’re going to show up, that just adds to our motivation, for sure. We’re extremely grateful for our fans.”

Athletic director Todd Stewart noted that when coach Rick Stansbury was hired in 2016, WKU was coming off its worst attendance figures since the renovation.

The Hilltoppers drew 3,915 fans per game in Stansbury’s first year of 2016-17 before improving to 5,487 per game last season. The average attendance increase of 1,572 fans ranked eighth-best nationally.

Stansbury announced in October that the program sold out its general season ticket allotment. It was believed to be the first time the Toppers had done so before a season since Diddle Arena opened in 1963.

“Needless to say, the atmosphere in Diddle Arena has come a long way in the last three years,” Stewart told the Daily News.

“From the moment he was hired, Rick Stansbury had a vision of a day when tickets would no longer be available, and to see that realized numerous times this year speaks to how much the fans now believe in our program.”

WKU’s first home game, a Nov. 10 win over Tennessee-Martin, drew an announced crowd of 5,815 fans. That was the program’s largest for a home opener since the 2007-08 squad drew 6,271 for its home debut.

Stansbury’s squad drew its biggest crowd of the season for its most impressive victory.

An announced 7,614 showed up Dec. 29 to see the Hilltoppers beat then-No. 15 Wisconsin 83-76. It marked the fourth-largest single game crowd at Diddle Arena since the building’s renovation.

“I have been here for 11 years, and I’ve never seen Diddle Arena more vibrant than it was when we beat Wisconsin this year,” Stewart said.

WKU posted its record attendance figures despite playing seven of its 14 home games either during the school’s winter or spring breaks.

The Hilltoppers’ final two home games – March 3 vs. Southern Mississippi and Wednesday vs. UTSA – were part of C-USA’s new bonus-play concept and weren’t announced until Feb. 17.

Those home dates both fell on spring break. They were assigned for two days of the week – Sunday and Wednesday – the school typically tries to avoid for scheduling because of church conflicts.

Even with those obstacles, WKU brought in announced crowds of 5,408 for the USM game and 5,411 for the UTSA contest.

The Tops finished the season 10-4 overall at home, going 6-3 in Diddle Arena during C-USA play and 4-1 in nonconference action.

“I know as a coach and players, we sure appreciate everybody being here,” Stansbury said. “It makes a difference in our team. They’ve helped us win a couple of games because of the emotion and energy in this building.

“I would think as a fan how much more enjoyable it is to come into this arena now when, hey, they’re having to leave early to get here. … You come in here and this thing is packed.”

Stansbury credited Stewart for bringing marquee opponent Saint Mary’s and Wisconsin to Bowling Green as part of home-and-home deals.

Next season, WKU will welcome Southeastern Conference school Arkansas and perennial Ohio Valley Conference front-runner Belmont to Diddle Arena as part of nonconference play.

If the league sticks with its bonus-play format, then rivals Marshall and Old Dominion will be scheduled for visits during the C-USA schedule.

WKU’s highest single-season attendance averages (since Diddle Arena’s 2002-03 renovation)

1. 2018-19, 5,809

2. 2005-06, 5,731

3. 2007-08, 5,564

4. 2017-18, 5,487

5. 2002-03, 5,473

WKU’s highest attended games home games during 2018-19 season

1. 7,614, Dec. 29, 83-76 win vs. then-No. 15 Wisconsin

2. 6,839, Feb. 16, 68-60 loss vs. Alabama-Birmingham

3. 6,397, Feb. 2, 76-59 win vs. Texas-El Paso

4. 6,369, Jan. 21, 68-59 win vs. Marshall

5. 6,071, Dec. 1, 88-74 win vs. Tennessee State

Hilltoppers land No. 2 seed in C-USA Tournament

WKU will be the No. 2 seed in this week’s C-USA Basketball Championship, and will open play against either seventh-seeded FIU or 10th-seeded North Texas at 8:30 p.m. CT Thursday in Frisco, Texas.

The Hilltoppers’ quarterfinal matchup on Court A will air on Stadium and locally in Bowling Green on WKU-PBS. The tournament takes place at Ford Center at The Star, the training facility of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.

WKU’s No. 2 seed is its highest finish in its five years in C-USA, as well as its highest finish overall since earning the No. 2 seed in the 2014 Sun Belt Conference Tournament.

The Hilltoppers (18-13, 11-7 C-USA) won 10 of their last 14 games in league play after a 1-3 start that included three losses by five total points in games WKU led by at least 15 points apiece.

The winner of WKU’s quarterfinal matchup will advance to the semifinals at 3 p.m. Friday in a contest broadcast nationally by CBS Sports Network. 

The championship will take place at 7:30 p.m. March 16 and also air on CBS Sports Network.

WKU took a 77-76 home loss to FIU in the teams’ only matchup this year on Jan. 17. The Hilltoppers won 62-59 at North Texas on Feb. 9.

WKU has advanced to at least the semifinals of its league tournament in 12 of the last 14 seasons. The program is 23-7 with four championships in the last 11 conference tournaments overall.

The Hilltoppers reached the C-USA championship game for the first time last season as the No. 3 seed, falling 67-66 to Marshall before a run to the NIT Final Four.

{&end}