BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) -Steffphon Pettigrew had 16 points and Cliff Dixon posted his first career double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds as Western Kentucky defeated Florida International 81-64 on Saturday night.

After Florida International (6-15, 3-5 Sun Belt Conference) had a 15-6 run to cut the Western Kentucky lead to one, the Hilltoppers (11-5, 4-1) used a 30-2 run to lead 53-24.

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The highlight of the run came in the closing seconds of the first half when Caden Dickerson stole an inbounds pass and hit a buzzer-beating basket for a 38-22 halftime score.

Jeremy Evans and A.J. Slaughter each had 13 points for Western Kentucky.

The Hilltoppers, who led by as many as 34 points early in the second half, finished 24-for-33 from the free throw line and the Golden Panthers were 6-for-14.

Marvin Roberts had 18 points off the bench for Florida International and Stephon Weaver had 13.