BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (Interstat) — Brock Glenn accounted for two touchdowns and Ajay Allen rushed for 105 yards and two scores as Western Kentucky pulled away from Missouri State for a 34-13 victory in an NCAA Football Bowl Division game on Thursday at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium. The Hilltoppers improved to 2-4, while the Bears fell to 1-4. A crowd of 11,102 watched Western Kentucky control the game after an early exchange of scores.

Western Kentucky set the tone with 14 first-quarter points and never trailed. The Hilltoppers added three points in the second quarter, 10 in the third and seven in the fourth. Missouri State got field goals from Yousef Obeid and a touchdown pass from Henry Belin IV to Isaiah Myers. The Hilltoppers’ defense limited the Bears throughout the second half and protected the lead. Western Kentucky also forced Missouri State to settle for field goals on two early red-zone trips, which helped the Hilltoppers maintain control.

Western Kentucky opened the scoring when Glenn rushed 1 yard for a touchdown. Obeid answered with a 25-yard field goal for Missouri State. Obeid added a 31-yard field goal in the second quarter. Glenn then connected with Stafford for a 42-yard touchdown, and Allen scored on a 3-yard run. In the third quarter, Belin found Myers for a 36-yard touchdown, and Western Kentucky’s Karl Campbell made a 34-yard field goal. Campbell added a 43-yard field goal in the fourth quarter before Allen broke free for a 39-yard touchdown run. The Hilltoppers’ special teams also contributed, with Campbell converting both field-goal tries.

Glenn, a 6-foot-2, 213-pound quarterback from Covington, Tennessee, completed 20 of 35 passes for 231 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also ran 15 times for 95 yards and one touchdown. His touchdown run came in the first quarter, and he later connected with Jonathan Stafford Jr. on a 42-yard scoring pass. Stafford finished with six receptions for 72 yards and one touchdown to go with four carries for 11 yards and a 1-yard punt return.

Allen powered the Western Kentucky ground game, carrying 13 times for 105 yards and two touchdowns. His 3-yard scoring run in the second quarter helped the Hilltoppers build their advantage, and his 39-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter sealed the result. Zion Taylor added one carry for 11 yards and one reception for 21 yards. Le’Kamren Meadows ran four times for 10 yards, while Kalib Hicks had three carries for 1 yard. Allen’s 105 yards led all rushers. Western Kentucky’s ground game consistently moved the chains behind Allen.

Missouri State used two quarterbacks. Belin, a 6-foot-3, 212-pound passer, completed 8 of 14 passes for 115 yards and one touchdown. Skyler Locklear, listed at 5-foot-10 and 189 pounds, completed 12 of 24 passes for 89 yards and ran eight times for 76 yards. Belin’s touchdown pass went to Myers, a 6-foot-5, 185-pound receiver, who caught three passes for 77 yards and one score. Mekhi Miller added five receptions for 43 yards, Jmariyae Robinson had seven catches for 41 yards and a 29-yard kick return, Witt Edwards caught one pass for 18 yards, and Jeron Askren had two receptions for no yards. Locklear’s 76 rushing yards led Missouri State on the ground.

The Bears’ rushing attack got 23 yards from Ramone Green Jr. on seven carries. Breezy Dubar added five carries for 24 yards, Connor Lair ran five times for 19 yards and caught two passes for 25 yards, and King Davis also contributed. Kicker Obeid made field goals from 25 and 31 yards, while Stewart McDonald punted three times for 125 yards. McDonald’s three punts averaged 41.7 yards.

Defensively, Missouri State’s Jared Lloyd recorded 15 tackles and two quarterback hurries. J.J. O’Neal added 11 tackles and one quarterback hurry, Joel Boamah had seven tackles and one quarterback hurry, and Christian Ford made six tackles. Joel Kpassou finished with four tackles. Anthony Mattison had five tackles, while Gilles Tchio and Jashawn Cooper each had three. Tim Brantley Jr., Josh Lukusa, Kellen Lindstrom, Markell Chapman and Martavis Blackmon each had two tackles. Khalil Anderson, Cooper Roy, Jalile Elliott, Blessing Igbinedion, Dylan Brooks, Caden Wiest and Michael Osei-Bonsu each had one tackle.

Western Kentucky’s Jaylen Lewis led the defense with 14 tackles. Westen Ard had nine tackles and one quarterback hurry, while Braxton Myers and Latrevion Thompson each made five tackles. Justin Brown added five tackles. Lofton Howard caught three passes for 61 yards. Moussa Barry had four receptions for 30 yards, Coleson Arends caught two passes for 26 yards, Qua’Vez Humphreys had two catches for 22 yards, and Quincy Burroughs and Cameron Flowers each caught one pass for 5 yards. Flowers also returned a kickoff 22 yards.

Western Kentucky entered the game looking to bounce back from a loss at New Mexico State. The Hilltoppers had also fallen to Indiana, Georgia and Nevada, while defeating Mercyhurst. Missouri State had dropped games to SMU, Marshall and Texas A&M, with its lone win coming against Lindenwood. The teams are next scheduled to continue conference play, with Missouri State set to host Kennesaw State and Western Kentucky set to visit Sam Houston. Missouri State’s upcoming slate also includes Delaware, Sam Houston, Florida International, New Mexico State, Jacksonville State and Liberty. Western Kentucky’s remaining schedule includes Delaware, Middle Tennessee, Jacksonville State, Liberty and Kennesaw State.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Western Kentucky 41, Missouri State 16. Interstat’s ELO system gave Western Kentucky a 62.5 percent probability to win. Western Kentucky had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5. Western Kentucky covered the 1.5-point spread. The total score was 47, and the over/under line was 56.5.