Men's Basketball | 11/22/2016 1:15:00 AM

Box Score WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The unbeaten and No. 1-ranked West Liberty University men's basketball team scorched the nets for 70 first-half points and never looked back here Monday night in rolling to a 132-97 blowout of Urbana in a Mountain East Conference test at the ASRC.
Coach Jim Crutchfield's Hilltoppers (5-0, 2-0) shot a blistering 71 percent from the floor in the first 20 minutes – including an eye-popping 10-of-13  from the 3-point arc – to take a 70-44 lead at intermission and the Blue Knights (2-3, 0-2) never recovered.
Despite having just nine players in uniform due to a series of early-season injuries, West Liberty had no trouble building on the lead over the final 20 minutes as eight of the nine players cracked double-figures in what could only be described as a passing clinic.
"We really did a good job of sharing the basketball tonight," Crutchfield said, noting that WLU finished with a season-high 31 assists on 48 field goals. "We moved very well without the basketball, got a ton of open looks and made the shots right from the start."
Dan Monteroso had a huge night with 25 points and 7 assists – both game-highs. The athletic 6-3 junior, who was the leading receiver on the Hilltopper football team, also turned in the highlight-reel moment of the evening when he soared in from the wing for a ringing slam dunk over a 6-7 Urbana player.
"I think Dan's enjoying getting to play basketball again," Crutchfield said with a smile. "He's starting to have a little fun out there and there's nothing wrong with that."
West Liberty didn't lack for impressive performances. Sophomore guard David Dennis, the reigning MEC Player of the Week, finished with 15 points and 6 assists but Crutchfield said those numbers only scratch the surface of Dennis' game.
"David always has great numbers but what doesn't show up in the box score is how much of a catalyst he is for our defense with his tips and reads. He's not just a leader on offense. David leads by example at both ends of the court."
Senior post Zac Grossenbacher just missed a double-double with 15 points and 9 rebounds while junior Brandon Smith, getting his first career start due to an injury to Eric Meininger, responded with 15 points and 6 assists. Senior Devin Hoehn rounded out the starters with a dozen points, 4 assists and 5 rebounds.
Junior guard Brady Arnold came off the bench with 19 points while sophomore James Griffin added 16 points in just 14 minutes of game action. Zak Kirkbride rounded out the double-figure scorers with a well-rounded line of 11 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks and a steal.
"We're a little short-handed right now but we didn't really miss a beat when the guys came in off the bench," Crutchfield said. "In fact, I thought they gave us a little bit of a lift. We may have only dressed nine guys tonight but all nine of them were significant contributors."
Urbana got 16 points from Carlas Jackson to go along with 15 points each from Jaymere Howze and DeQuan Abrom and 14 from Charles Sweatt-Washington.
The Hilltoppers step out of conference on Saturday when they host a LeMoyne (N.Y.) squad coached by former West Virginia University standout Patrick Beilein. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at the ASRC.