BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) -A.J. Slaughter scored a career-high 31 points as Western Kentucky routed South Alabama 99-69 on Thursday night.

Slaughter scored 21 points in the first half as Western Kentucky (16-12, 9-6 Sun Belt Conference) jumped out to a 53-30 halftime lead. The Hilltoppers shot 64 percent in the first half (16-for-25) and 53.1 percent for the game (34-for-64), going 14-for-32 from beyond the arc.

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Slaughter hit six 3-pointers and was 10-for-16 from the field. Sergio Kerusch and Steffphon Pettigrew each had 13 points.

The Hilltoppers, who led by as many as 33 points, had a season-high 25 assists with Jamal Crook leading the way with seven. Kerusch had 10 rebounds as they outrebounded the Jaguars 43-24.

Western Kentucky's bench outscored South Alabama's reserves 42-5.

Tim Williams led South Alabama (15-13, 7-9) with 21 points.