Marek Nelson thinks he can play a valuable role as Western Kentucky enters the postseason.

“Just energy,” the sophomore forward said. “Loose balls, all the little things that you need on a championship-winning team. You need to have those things from somebody.

“If no one’s going to do it, then I’ve got no problem doing it.”

Nelson and the Hilltoppers travel this week to Frisco, Texas, for the Conference USA Tournament. No. 2 seed WKU (18-13, 11-7) will face No. 7 seed Florida International (19-12, 10-8) or No. 10 seed North Texas (20-11, 8-10) at 8:30 p.m. Thursday in a quarterfinal.

Thursday’s game will be the Toppers’ third since Nelson returned from what was originally believed to be a season-ending back injury.

Nelson played a single minute Jan. 17 in a home loss to FIU, then didn’t play the following 12 games.

Stansbury said two days later that Nelson was dealing with a lingering back injury that “may be season ending.” He confirmed Jan. 30 that he didn’t expect the forward to return in the 2018-19 season.

Nelson rested his injured back and said it started feeling better. As his condition improved, a return to action suddenly became an option.

“I started to have less and less pain,” Nelson said. “I can move around a lot more without as much pain. My back was getting better, in general. I told coach I could play right now, and he got me into practices. It was pretty smooth getting back into it.”

The school announced March 3, shortly before a home game against Southern Mississippi, that Nelson was dressed and available to play. He appeared for one minute against the Golden Eagles, making one of two free throws in a 76-71 win.

Nelson then made a spot start Wednesday against Texas-San Antonio. He was inserted into the lineup in place of guard Josh Anderson, who Stansbury said arrived late to a game-day shootaround.

Over 19 minutes, Nelson scored eight points, his most since scoring 10 in a season-opening loss at Washington. He finished 2-of-5 from the field, 2-of-4 from the 3-point line and 2-of-2 from the free-throw line.

“I was more excited than anything, just to be able to come back and play with my brothers,” Nelson said. “I was just focused on going out there and playing as hard as I can and then I was ready to shoot, and it went in.”

Nelson’s two made 3s tied a single-game career high. He also posted four rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal against three turnovers in an 81-76 WKU overtime loss.

“He came out and hit two big 3s in the beginning of the game,” guard Lamonte Bearden said. “Other than that, he had great energy.”

Nelson has averaged three points and 1.9 rebounds over the 15 games he’s played this season. He shoots 36.6 percent from the floor, 42.9 percent from beyond the arc and 66.7 percent from the foul stripe.

The Plano, Texas, native will play just minutes from his hometown this week in Frisco. His presence adds depth to a Topper squad that’s lacked it this season.

WKU’s reserves play 23.6 percent of the team’s minutes. That ranks 317th of 353 Division I teams, according to Ken Pomeroy data.

Adding Nelson back into the mix gives Stansbury an option on the wing to spell starters Anderson and Jared Savage. The 6-foot-7 sophomore can affect games with his length and athleticism defensively and his willingness to go after loose balls and deflections.

“He plays hard and he’s a good defender,” Stansbury said. “If he steps up and makes shots, then that’s a plus. …

“He gives us something off that bench playing hard.”{&end}