Western Kentucky freshman guard Julius Thedford (13) gives senior guard Don McHenry (2), who scored 28 points in the game, a hug as the Hilltoppers win 86-73 over the Seattle Redhawks at E. A. Diddle Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Men's Basketball Coach Hank Plona talks to the team before the start of their 86-73 win over the Seattle Redhawks at E. A. Diddle Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky senior guard Don McHenry (2) shoots a layup as Seattle sophomore forward Malek Gomma (8) and senior guard Paris Dawson (2) move in to defend in the Hilltoppers’ 86-73 win over the Redhawks at E. A. Diddle Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. McHenry scored 28 points in the game. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky senior forward Leeroy Odiahi (21) shoots a layup over Seattle redshirt freshman forward Will Heimbrodt (15) in the Hilltoppers’ 86-73 win over the Redhawks at E. A. Diddle Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky graduate forward Tyrone Marshall Jr. (24) scrambles to recover a loose ball from Seattle senior guard Vasja Pandža (7) in the Hilltoppers’ 86-73 win over the Redhawks at E. A. Diddle Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky senior guard Enoch Kalambay (23) shoots a three-pointer over Seattle sophomore forward Malek Gomma (8) in the Hilltoppers’ 86-73 win over the Redhawks at E. A. Diddle Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky freshman guard Julius Thedford (13) shoots a three-pointer over Seattle junior guard DaSean Stevens (5) in the Hilltoppers’ 86-73 win over the Redhawks at E. A. Diddle Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Men's Basketball Coach Hank Plona talks with graduate guard Jalen Jackson (3) on the sidelines as graduate guard Braxton Bayless (0) shoots a free throw in the Hilltoppers’ 86-73 win over the Seattle Redhawks at E. A. Diddle Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky senior guard Enoch Kalambay (23) /looks to pass the ball around Seattle redshirt junior guard John Christofilis (11) in the Hilltoppers’ 86-73 win over the Redhawks at E. A. Diddle Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky freshman guard Julius Thedford (13) shoots a three-pointer over Seattle redshirt junior guard John Christofilis (11) in the Hilltoppers’ 86-73 win over the Redhawks at E. A. Diddle Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky sophomore guard Jack Edelen (15) moves the ball down court around Seattle junior guard DaSean Stevens (5) in the Hilltoppers’ 86-73 win over the Redhawks at E. A. Diddle Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky senior guard Don McHenry (2) shoots the ball over Seattle sophomore forward Malek Gomma (8) and senior guard Paris Dawson (2) in the Hilltoppers’ 86-73 win over the Redhawks at E. A. Diddle Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. McHenry scored 28 points in the game. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Men's Basketball Coach Hank Plona gathers the team in a huddle at the start of their 86-73 win over the Seattle Redhawks at E. A. Diddle Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky graduate forward Tyrone Marshall Jr. (24) looks to move around Seattle senior guard Paris Dawson (2) in the Hilltoppers’ 86-73 win over the Redhawks at E. A. Diddle Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky senior forward Leeroy Odiahi (21) dunks the ball in the Hilltoppers’ 86-73 win over the Seattle Redhawks at E. A. Diddle Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky graduate guard Braxton Bayless (0) shoots a three-pointer in the Hilltoppers’ 86-73 win over the Seattle Redhawks at E. A. Diddle Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky freshman guard Julius Thedford (13) tries to hang onto the ball as Seattle freshman center Houran Dan (6), redshirt junior guard John Christofilis (11) and junior guard Brayden Maldonado (0) surround him in the Hilltoppers’ 86-73 win over the Redhawks at E. A. Diddle Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky senior forward Leeroy Odiahi (21) shoots a layup over Seattle sophomore forward Malek Gomma (8) in the Hilltoppers’ 86-73 win over the Redhawks at E. A. Diddle Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky graduate forward Tyrone Marshall Jr. (24) shoots a three-pointer beside Seattle sophomore forward Malek Gomma (8) in the Hilltoppers’ 86-73 win over the Redhawks at E. A. Diddle Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Men's Basketball Coach Hank Plona shouts instructions from the sidelines in the Hilltoppers’ 86-73 win over the Seattle Redhawks at E. A. Diddle Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky graduate guard Braxton Bayless (0) looks to pass the ball as he gets surrounded by Seattle players in the Hilltoppers’ 86-73 win over the Redhawks at E. A. Diddle Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky graduate guard Jalen Jackson (3) shoots a layup in the Hilltoppers’ 86-73 win over the Seattle Redhawks at E. A. Diddle Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky senior forward Leeroy Odiahi (21) dunks the ball in the Hilltoppers’ 86-73 win over the Seattle Redhawks at E. A. Diddle Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky senior guard Don McHenry (2) shoots a three-pointer as Seattle sophomore forward Malek Gomma (8) and senior guard Paris Dawson (2) reach to block in the Hilltoppers’ 86-73 win over the Redhawks at E. A. Diddle Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. McHenry scored 28 points in the game. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

The Hilltoppers celebrate a three-pointer by Western Kentucky senior guard Enoch Kalambay (23) in their 86-73 win over the Seattle Redhawks at E. A. Diddle Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS