Western Kentucky’s roster will have a different look Sunday when it returns to action against Troy.

The 2 p.m. matchup at E.A. Diddle Arena will mark the Hilltoppers’ first this season with Lamonte Bearden eligible to play. The guard was academically ineligible for WKU’s first nine games due to issues from the 2018 spring semester.

“He’s down to his last 20-something games,” coach Rick Stansbury said Friday of Bearden. “You’re a senior. You’re on a pretty good team. You’re playing that (point guard) role you need to play with some pretty good players around you.

“I don’t think it could be set up any better for you.”

Bearden’s return for the Toppers (5-4) coincides with forward Desean Murray’s departure from the program. WKU announced Wednesday the graduate senior has left to pursue a professional basketball career.

“You know, I wish him the best,” Stansbury said of Murray. “He was a nice young kid, young man. He already had his degree, so I can’t fault him for that if that’s what he wants to do.

“His opportunity is overseas if he wants to go to do that. Since then, I’ve focused on our group of guys. It gives an opportunity for someone else to step up now.”

Stansbury’s shuffled through lineups this season searching for the right combination. Most of those included the Auburn graduate transfer Murray playing power forward.

Murray’s numbers dropped off from what he posted last year as a redshirt junior with the Tigers.

After missing the Hilltoppers’ season opener due to a suspension, he averaged 9.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 20.4 minutes over the last eight games. By comparison, the 6-foot-4 forward posted 10.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 23.9 minutes per game last year at Auburn.

Murray’s departure came days after he played a minimal role in WKU’s first road win of the season. He saw 11 scoreless minutes Saturday in Fayetteville, Ark., as the Tops knocked off Arkansas 78-77.

WKU’s most productive lineup in that game involved Dalano Banton and Taveion Hollingsworth in the backcourt, Marek Nelson and Jared Savage on the wing and Charles Bassey in the post.

Stansbury now has Bearden back, meaning he can play smaller lineups with Josh Anderson, Nelson, Savage or even Banton at the four. He’s also wanted to work freshman forward Tolu Smith, who’s been efficient in limited minutes, in at that spot some alongside fellow freshman Bassey.

Those developments pointed to a more limited role for Murray, a Preseason All-Conference USA pick, in the coming weeks. Rather than stick around and likely play fewer minutes, the Stanley, N.C., native chose to start his pro career.

“He’s our brother,” the sophomore guard Hollingsworth said. “We love him. Whatever he was comfortable with, we were comfortable with. He decided he had to do whatever he had to do.

“We appreciate him coming (to WKU) and showing us what he could do. Much luck to him.”

Murray had been the lone senior on the floor this season for the Hilltoppers. That distinction now falls to the 6-3 guard Bearden, who’ll cap a five-year college basketball career that started from 2014-16 at Buffalo.

Bearden transferred to WKU in 2016 and started 34 games last season as Stansbury’s squad posted 27 wins and advanced to the National Invitation Tournament semifinals. He averaged 11.8 points, 3.4 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game last year for the Toppers, leading the team in made free throws (127) and steals (65).

Following the season, Bearden declared for the 2018 NBA draft. He reversed course in May and announced he’d return to WKU for the 2018-19 season.

But after not meeting academic requirements in the spring, Bearden had to miss the Hilltoppers’ first nine games this season. His absence was felt on the court as WKU battled through a difficult early schedule without its point guard.

Stansbury shuffled through Anderson, Banton and Hollingsworth at the point guard spot without Bearden available. Bearden will return to that role and start Sunday, the third-year coach said.

“We’ve got our point guard back,” the Lexington native Hollingsworth said. “I know the fans are really happy about that too as well.

“We’re really glad that ‘Monte’s back and we’re going to see what he can do.”

Stansbury praised Bearden publicly for the way he refocused academically during WKU’s fall semester, which ended Friday. He also said Bearden’s put in more extra time in the gym than he has in the past and has kept a positive demeanor while working on the scout team during practice.

Hollingsworth credited Bearden for offering him advice when Stansbury shifted him from his natural two-guard position over to point for a few games.

“He’s been encouraging,” Hollingsworth said. “… He tried to give me a few tips.

“He’s our senior point guard so not only was he talking to me, he was talking to Dalano. Anyone that was at the guard spot, he was talking to them, letting them know, ‘Hey, you should be seeing the court,’ or ‘You should know everything that’s going on. You should know every position, everything.’ ”

Bearden rejoins the team for a tough stretch to close nonconference play.

The Hilltoppers host Troy on Sunday, travel to Belmont on Wednesday and then host Saint Mary’s on Dec. 22 and No. 16 Wisconsin on Dec. 29. Those teams are ranked 185th, 91st, 53rd and 13th, respectively, of 353 Division I teams by the Ken Pomeroy efficiency rankings.

“Will (Bearden) be rusty Sunday?” Stansbury asked. “You all know the answer to that some. I mean, when you haven’t played and haven’t practiced every day with that first team, there’ll be some rustiness with him.

“But he still brings some skill level with rust or no rust that helps our team. We’ll play him back into rhythm and chemistry and shape with the team.”{&end}