Sergio Kerush - the Preseason Player of the Year in the Sun Belt Conference - scored a game-high 31 points on 11 of 15 shooting to lead Western Kentucky past St. Joseph's 98-70 on Friday night in the season opener for both teams.
Kerush also grabbed nine rebounds and shot 6 of 8 from three-point range.
The Hilltoppers shot 51.4 percent in the first half as they amassed a 48-38 halftime lead. Western Kentucky's hot shooting continued in the second half as the Hilltoppers hit 21 of 29 attempts (72.4 percent) and outscored the Hawks 50-32.
Juan Pattillo and Steffphon Pettigrew each scored 17 points for Western Kentucky and Pattillo had 12 rebounds to complete the double-double.
Carl Jones scored 17 points for St. Joseph's in the loss.
The loss snapped a five-game winning streak in season-opening games for the Hawks.
