HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (Interstat) — Trey Simpson scored 26 points and Kennesaw State used a dominant start to each half to hold off Western Kentucky 96-87 in a Conference USA men’s basketball tournament quarterfinal on Thursday night at T. M. Elmore Gymnasium.

The Owls (19-13) advanced to face Sam Houston on Friday, avenging a pair of regular-season losses to the Hilltoppers (18-14) with a high-octane offensive performance in front of 3,029 fans. The game’s total points, 183, sailed over the pregame over/under line of 159.5.

The most critical phase of the game came immediately after halftime. Leading 46-41 at the break, Kennesaw State opened the second half with a blistering 12-2 run in the first 2:38 to seize a 58-43 advantage. Simpson, who had been quiet in recent games, ignited the surge with a layup, and Braedan Lue capped it with a 3-pointer. The burst established a double-digit cushion the Hilltoppers would threaten but never overcome.

Western Kentucky, which entered as a slight 1-point favorite, chipped away throughout the second half, closing to within 77-72 on a Teagan Moore 3-pointer with 8:43 remaining. Each time the Hilltoppers made a push, the Owls had an answer, often from Simpson or Frankquon Sherman. A driving layup by Sherman and a transition alley-oop from RJ Johnson to Simpson in the final 90 seconds helped Kennesaw State seal the victory at the free-throw line.

Simpson, a 6-foot-8 forward from Evergreen, Alabama, was efficient in his 28 minutes, adding a block and a steal to his game-high point total. His performance marked a significant resurgence after scoring just six points in 26 minutes in the Owls’ previous game, a loss at UTEP.

Sherman provided crucial support with 19 points and a game-high 37 minutes for Kennesaw State. Johnson, a hometown product from Huntsville, orchestrated the offense with 18 points and six assists. Lue added 16 points and three assists, while Amir Taylor contributed 11 points off the bench.

Western Kentucky was led by Moore’s 27 points. Grant Newell scored 17 and LJ Hackman added 16 for the Hilltoppers, who shot 46 percent in the second half but could not match the Owls’ consistent scoring output.

The game’s opening minutes set an early tone. Kennesaw State raced to a 13-5 lead, fueled by two early 3-pointers from Johnson. The Owls maintained that lead throughout a choppy first half that featured 21 combined fouls and 15 turnovers. Kennesaw State took its five-point lead into halftime despite Western Kentucky’s Moore and Newell combining for 23 first-half points.

The Owls’ victory continued a pattern in the season series, as the visiting team won all three matchups. Kennesaw State won 81-65 in Bowling Green on Jan. 17, while Western Kentucky took the return game in Kennesaw, 72-69, on Jan. 28.

With the win, Kennesaw State improved to 19-13 and will look to carry its momentum into the semifinal round. Western Kentucky’s season ends at 18-14.