BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) -A.J. Slaughter scored 25 points and Steffphon Pettigrew added 21 to help Western Kentucky beat Florida Atlantic 79-72 on Thursday night.

Slaughter scored 21 points in the second half for the Hilltoppers (10-5, 3-1 Sun Belt Conference), including 14 of their 16 midway through the half.

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Western Kentucky shot 54.5 percent in the second half (12 of 22) after trailing 34-33 at halftime.

The Hilltoppers led for most of the first half, until Raymond Taylor had three-point play to give the Owls (7-10, 2-3) a 29-28 lead with 3 minutes left until halftime.

Western Kentucky, which trailed by as many as four, cut the halftime deficit to one on Caden Dickerson's 3 with 28 seconds left.

Greg Gantt scored 23 points for Florida Atlantic, including 17 in the second half. Jordan McCoy added 13 and Taylor had 11 points and nine assists for the Owls.