Men's Basketball | 11/13/2015 6:40:00 AM
WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The nationally-ranked West Liberty University men's and women's basketball teams tip off the 2015-16 season at home on Saturday and Sunday.
Coach Jim Crutchfield and his No. 3-ranked Hilltopper men are hosting the second annual Charles and Lavoo Crutchfield Classic while Coach Lynn Ullom and his No. 21-ranked WLU women will be competing in the PSAC/MEC Crossover Tournament. All games will be played at the ASRC. Crutchfield, who carries the highest winning percentage (300-53, .850) in NCAA Division II history into his 12th season at the Black and Gold helm, is used to high expectations. With National Player of the Year Seger Bonifant and several other key performers back in the fold, the veteran coach is looking forward to the season opener. "I'm always excited for the start of the season," Crutchfield said, "and after going up against each other for the past month or so, I think our guys are, too. I could tell the difference in practice this week. We're getting ready to play a real game in front of our home fans for the first time in eight months. We can't wait."
The Hilltoppers open against Mansfield (Pa.) Saturday at 6 p.m. with California (Pa.) and Notre Dame (Ohio) wrapping up the first day's action with an 8 p.m. tipoff. Sunday's slate finds Notre Dame and Mansfield locking horns at 4 p.m. with West Liberty and California wrapping things up at 6 p.m.
Ullom, who is closing in on his 500th career win (496-227, .686) as he embarks on his 25th season at West Liberty, is looking to build on last year's success as he welcomes back four starters and several letterwinners from his 24-9 MEC regular-season and tournament championship squad.
The women's tournament is an impressive one as WLU isn't the only nationally-ranked team in the field. Defending NCAA Division II national champion California (Pa.) – ranked No. 5 in this year's preseason Top 25 – opens on Saturday with a 2 p.m. game against Notre Dame (Ohio) before the West Liberty women meet Mercyhurst (Pa.) at 4 p.m.
The Notre Dame and Mercyhurst women tip off at noon Sunday with the Hilltoppers and Vulcans' early-season Top 25 showdown set for 2 p.m. It's a rematch of last season's NCAA Division II Atlantic Region semifinal which saw West Liberty take California to the wire before falling by a 69-64 count.
"We always try to play a challenging non-conference schedule," Ullom said, "and this year is certainly no exception. We're looking forward to the challenge of defending our championships."
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
(at West Liberty University)
Men
Charles and Lavoo Crutchfield Classic
Saturday, Nov. 14
Mansfield (Pa.) at WEST LIBERTY, 6 p.m.
Notre Dame (Ohio) vs. California (Pa.), 8 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 15
Notre Dame (Ohio) vs. Mansfield (Pa.), 4 p.m.
California (Pa.) at WEST LIBERTY, 6 p.m.
Women
Saturday, Nov. 14
PSAC/MEC Crossover
Notre Dame (Ohio) vs. California (Pa.), 2 p.m.
Mercyhurst (Pa.) at WEST LIBERTY, 4 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 15
Notre Dame (Ohio) vs. Mercyhurst (Pa.), Noon
California (Pa.) at WEST LIBERTY, 2 p.m.
