Kennesaw State Upsets Western Kentucky in C-USA Tournament

Trey Simpson scores 26 points to lead Owls to victory over Hilltoppers

Mar. 13, 2026 at 5:06am

Sixth-seeded Kennesaw State defeated No. 3 seed Western Kentucky 96-87 in the Conference USA Tournament on Thursday night. Trey Simpson led the way for the Owls with 26 points in the upset victory.

Why it matters

This win is a major upset in the C-USA Tournament, as Western Kentucky was the higher-seeded team and a favorite to advance further in the postseason competition. Kennesaw State's victory showcases their ability to compete with top teams in the conference.

The details

Trey Simpson, a standout player for Kennesaw State, had an impressive performance, scoring 26 points to lead his team to the victory over Western Kentucky. The Owls were able to pull off the upset despite Western Kentucky being the higher-seeded team going into the matchup.

  • The game took place on Thursday, March 13, 2026 in the Conference USA Tournament.

The players

Trey Simpson

A key player for the Kennesaw State Owls who scored 26 points in the team's upset victory over Western Kentucky.

Kennesaw State Owls

The sixth-seeded men's basketball team that defeated the higher-ranked Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in the Conference USA Tournament.

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

The third-seeded men's basketball team that was upset by Kennesaw State in the Conference USA Tournament.

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The takeaway

Kennesaw State's victory over Western Kentucky demonstrates their ability to compete with top teams in the Conference USA Tournament, and sets them up for a potential deep run in the postseason competition.