A.J. Slaughter isn't feeling like a freshman anymore.

Both Slaughter and fellow freshman Jeremy Evans have had their ups and downs, like most freshmen, but the two again showed their progress in Western's 65-53 win over Middle Tennessee on Saturday.

Slaughter scored 10 points and added two steals with no turnovers while Evans was a perfect 5-for-5 from the field for 11 points and nine rebounds.

“I feel like I'm making that change over to a sophomore,” said Slaughter, a Shelby County product. “I'm just making better decisions with the ball and taking care of it. They tell me in practice I'm not a freshman anymore.”

Slaughter and Evans were both needed because Western's top two scorers on the season, Courtney Lee and Tyrone Brazelton, were both held below their averages. Lee, who was averaging almost 18 points, was held to 11 on 3-of-10 shooting. Brazelton had been averaging 13 points, but was 2-of-8 from the field for 11 points.

“I thought the difference in the game was their freshmen,” Middle Tennessee coach Kermit Davis said. “The freshmen really played well. I thought those guys made plays when they needed them.”

Both Slaughter and Evans have played well as of late. Slaughter played a big part in Western's close-but-no-cigar comeback attempts at North Texas and South Alabama last week, where the Hilltoppers trailed by 21 and 12, respectively. Slaughter had four steals against North Texas and scored eight points against South Alabama - including a rare four-point play that kickstarted a run.

Evans has scored in double digits in each of his last four games.

“The last three games, no question, they have been (big),” WKU coach Darrin Horn said. “A.J. was great, but pick your cliche - hit the wall, midseason slump, whatever. The last week and a half, he has been really good for us.

“The great thing about both of those guys is when you turn those lights on, they are not worried about a thing. They are just going to play. That's a rare quality to have in a freshman.”

TV time

Western Kentucky got its opportunity to play in front of ESPN2 cameras Saturday. While the slow-down pace might not have been the most exciting game for fans, Horn said the result wasn't the most important factor with ESPN2 at E.A. Diddle Arena.

“I think the biggest advantage for both programs and our league is that you're on (TV),” Horn said. “It's an exposure thing. I don't know playing well or winning is near as important than the fact that you're on. If you watched the (ESPN) ticker prior to our game today, they were showing top 25 matchups and whatever ESPN had showing. It makes you a player in the perception of the national television game. That's as important as how you play.”

With the exception of last year's loss to South Alabama in the Sun Belt Conference championship game, the Hilltoppers have been good on ESPN or ESPN2.

Saturday's win was the Hilltoppers' ninth victory in 10 games on either cable channel.

Conference talk

Following Saturday's game, Horn was asked about a perception that the quality of the Sun Belt is down this year compared to previous seasons.

Although the Hilltoppers are in second place in the Sun Belt Conference East Division, they are the only team in the top 100 of the RPI. South Alabama has the third longest winning streak in college basketball.

“I don't know if the league is down as much as there aren't as many impact players as there were. Like the Michael Southalls (at Louisiana-Lafayette),” Horn said. “Every night, just because he's on the floor, his team is going to be really good. Outside of (New Orleans' Bo) McCalebb and Courtney (Lee) and (South Alabama's Demetric) Bennett, although they are balanced, and (Arkansas State's Adrian) Banks, I don't think that you have that as much as you did.”