BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) -Orlando Mendez-Valdez scored 20 points to lead Western Kentucky to an 87-67 win over Florida Atlantic on Thursday night.
Mendez-Valdez shot 4-for-8 from 3-point range for the Hilltoppers (20-8, 14-3 Sun Belt Conference). A.J. Slaughter chipped in with 19 points.
Western Kentucky jumped out to an 11-point lead early and extending that to as much as 21 in the first half. The Hilltoppers led 44-30 at the half.
Florida Atlantic (6-24, 2-15) used a stifling 1-2-2 press to get back into the game, carving the lead down to as little as 11. But Western Kentucky responded with a 13-0 run to put the game out of reach.
The win gave the Hilltoppers their eighth undefeated season at home in program history.
Paul Graham III scored 20 points to lead the Owls. Shavar Richardson added 15, and Carlos Monroe chipped in with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
