The Hilltoppers gather in a huddle during their 87-68 loss to the UK Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky senior forward Babacar Faye (5) shoots a layup around University of Kentucky graduate center Amari Williams (22) in the Tops’ 87-68 loss to the Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky graduate guard Khristian Lander (4) shoots a layup around University of Kentucky graduate guard Jaxson Robinson (2) in the Tops’ 87-68 loss to the Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky senior forward Babacar Faye (5) reaches to block a layup by University of Kentucky junior guard Otega Oweh (00) in the Tops’ 87-68 loss to the Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Men's Basketball Coach Hank Plona shouts instructions from the sidelines in the Tops’ 87-68 loss to the UK Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky freshman guard Julius Thedford (13) shoots a layup after getting fouled by University of Kentucky senior guard Kerr Kriisa (77) in the Tops’ 87-68 loss to the Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky senior guard Enoch Kalambay (23) shoots a layup between University of Kentucky graduate guard Jaxson Robinson (2) and junior guard Otega Oweh (00) in the Tops’ 87-68 loss to the Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky freshman guard Julius Thedford (13) shoots a layup over University of Kentucky junior guard Otega Oweh (00) in the Tops’ 87-68 loss to the Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky graduate guard Braxton Bayless (0) tries to block a layup by University of Kentucky graduate guard Lamont Butler (1) in the Tops’ 87-68 loss to the Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky graduate guard Jalen Jackson (3) shoots a layup over University of Kentucky graduate guards Koby Brea (4) and Jaxson Robinson (2) in the Tops’ 87-68 loss to the Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky redshirt senior forward Blaise Keita (1) reaches to block a layup by University of Kentucky graduate guard Lamont Butler (1) in the Tops’ 87-68 loss to the Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky graduate forward Tyrone Marshall Jr. (24) shoots a layup as University of Kentucky graduate forward Andrew Carr (7) reaches to block in the Tops’ 87-68 loss to the Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky senior guard Don McHenry (2) shoots a layup as University of Kentucky graduate center Amari Williams (22) jumps to block in the Tops’ 87-68 loss to the Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky senior forward Babacar Faye (5) tries to knock the ball out of the hands of University of Kentucky graduate forward Andrew Carr (7) in the Tops’ 87-68 loss to the Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky graduate guard Braxton Bayless (0) tries to knock the ball from the hands of University of Kentucky graduate guard Jaxson Robinson (2) in the Tops’ 87-68 loss to the Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky redshirt senior forward Blaise Keita (1) reaches to block a pass by University of Kentucky junior guard Otega Oweh (00) in the Tops’ 87-68 loss to the Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Men's Basketball Coach Hank Plona gathers the team in a huddle during their 87-68 loss to the UK Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky senior guard Don McHenry (2) shoots a layup over University of Kentucky junior guard Otega Oweh (00) and graduate center Amari Williams (22) in the Tops’ 87-68 loss to the Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky senior forward Babacar Faye (5) tries to block a layup by University of Kentucky graduate center Amari Williams (22) in the Tops’ 87-68 loss to the Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky redshirt senior forward Blaise Keita (1) reaches for a rebounded ball in the Tops’ 87-68 loss to the UK Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky senior guard Don McHenry (2) shoots a three-pointer over University of Kentucky graduate center Amari Williams (22) in the Tops’ 87-68 loss to the Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky graduate guard Khristian Lander (4) blocks a layup by University of Kentucky junior guard Otega Oweh (00) in the Tops’ 87-68 loss to the Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky graduate guard Jalen Jackson (3) moves the ball past University of Kentucky graduate guard Lamont Butler (1) and graduate guard Jaxson Robinson (2) in the Tops’ 87-68 loss to the Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky redshirt senior forward Blaise Keita (1) reacts after a foul is called on him in the Tops’ 87-68 loss to the UK Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky graduate guard Khristian Lander (4) shoots a three-pointer over University of Kentucky senior guard Kerr Kriisa (77) in the Tops’ 87-68 loss to the Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky senior guard Don McHenry (2) shoots a three-pointer over University of Kentucky graduate guard Lamont Butler (1) in the Tops’ 87-68 loss to the Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky graduate guard Khristian Lander (4) moves the ball past University of Kentucky graduate guard Jaxson Robinson (2) in the Tops’ 87-68 loss to the Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky freshman guard Julius Thedford (13) shoots a layup over University of Kentucky sophomore forward Brandon Garrison (10) in the Tops’ 87-68 loss to the Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky graduate guard Khristian Lander (4) moves around University of Kentucky graduate guard Lamont Butler (1) to shoot a layup in the Tops’ 87-68 loss to the Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky senior guard Enoch Kalambay (23) passes the ball to graduate guard Jalen Jackson (3) in the Tops’ 87-68 loss to the UK Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky graduate guard Khristian Lander (4) blocks University of Kentucky graduate guard Jaxson Robinson (2) from passing the ball to graduate forward Andrew Carr (7) in the Tops’ 87-68 loss to the Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

University of Kentucky fans wave foam fingers for both UK and Western Kentucky during the Tops’ 87-68 loss to the UK Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS