Men's Basketball | 11/13/2014 4:57:00 PM

WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Liberty University men's basketball team puts its No. 1 national ranking on the line at home on Saturday when Coach Jim Crutchfield's high-flying Hilltoppers host the inaugural Charles and Lavoo Crutchfield Classic at the ASRC.
   The Hilltoppers open the tournament with a 5:30 p.m. game against St. Augustine's (N.C.) with Cheyney (Pa.) and Fayetteville (N.C.) State taking the court at 7:30 p.m. in the nightcap.
   "I didn't want to let this opening weekend go without playing but we couldn't get anybody to invite us to their tournament," Crutchfield said. "Well, my mom and dad have always been two of our biggest fans. They made a nice financial contribution to the program which gave us the opportunity to bring teams to our place. That's why it's the Charles and Lavoo Crutchfield Classic."
   Ranked No. 1 in nearly every preseason poll, the Hilltoppers must replace four double-figure scorers from last year's national runner-up squad but the cupboard is far from bare at a program that is coming off its fourth consecutive 30-win season and Atlantic Region champonship.
   Preseason All-American C.J. Hester (14.2 ppg., 8.4 rpg.), a 6-4 wing who has already scored more than 1,400 points in his career and is rapidly closing in on the 1,000-rebound milestone, leads a trio of returning double-figure scorers for the Black and Gold.
   Seger Bonifant (10.3 ppg., 76 3FGs), a 6-7 junior, has poured in nearly 700 points in his first two varsity seasons and leads all returning NCAA Division II players in career field-goal percentage. Devin Hoehn (11.8 ppg.), a 6-0 sophomore guard, led last year's Hilltoppers and was No. 2 nationwide among freshmen with 86 3-point field goals.
   Mike Lamberti (4.8 ppg.), a 6-5 junior wing, and 6-7 sophomore Zak Kirkbride (3.3 ppg.) also return after gaining valuable experience during last year's run to the national championship game.
   Joining the WLU mix this year are a trio of college transfers. Joe Lococo, a 6-3 junior guard, averaged 20.0 ppg. at NCAA Division II Shippensburg (Pa.) last winter while 6-4 senior point guard Indiana Faithfull and 6-8 sophomore post Zac Grossenbacher transferred in from NCAA Division I Wofford.
   "That No. 1 ranking is an honor not just to this team but to all the teams that went before them," Crutchfield said, with a nod to the row of championship banners on the wall of the ASRC. "It's great publicity for the program and the university and we're very appreciative. We've had a great month of practice. Now it's time to go out and prove it on the court."
   The tournament concludes on Sunday with Cheyney pairing off against St. Augustine's at 2 p.m. and West Liberty closing out the event in a 4 p.m. game against Fayetteville State.
 
MEN'S BASKETBALL
CHARLES AND LAVOO CRUTCHFIELD CLASSIC
Saturday, Nov. 15
    St. Augustine's (N.C.) at West Liberty, 5:30 pm
    Cheyney (Pa.) vs. Fayetteville State (N.C.), 7:30 pm
Sunday, Nov. 16
    St. Augustine's (N.C.) vs. Cheyney (Pa.), 2 pm
    Fayetteville State (N.C.) at West Liberty, 4 pm