WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – Freshman guards Will Yoakum and Yahel Hill combined for 45 points to help lift No. 16 West Liberty past a pesky Tiffin (Ohio) squad, 97-89, before a sizable Sunday afternoon crowd at the ASRC.
    Coach Ben Howlett's Hilltoppers (9-2) used an 11-0 burst to take the lead for good in the early stages of the second half and held the upset-minded Dragons (5-8) at bay the rest of the way despite their worst 3-point shooting performance of the season.
    West Liberty started the day leading the nation with an average of just under 13 3-pointers a game and ranked No. 2 in 3-point field goal percentage but made just 4-of-24 3-point tries on Sunday.
    "We may have played the worst first half in school history," Howlett said. "We defended better in the second half but it was like we forgot how to play basketball over the break. That being said, anytime we can go 4-for-24 from the 3-point line and still beat a good Division II basketball team, I'll take it."
    Tiffin scored the last two baskets of a see-saw first half to take a 48-44 lead into the locker room at intermission and the lead changed hands five more times in the first five minutes of the second half before the Black and Gold took control with a quick scoring blitz.
    After a driving layup by Hill – who scored 18 of his 22 points in the second half – put West Liberty up, 57-56, at the 14:25 mark, senior center Eric Meininger fed Yoakum and Hill for back-to-back fast break layups to make it 61-56 with 13:52 to play.
    Hill splashed home a 12-foot jumper to keep the run alive before sophomore forward Marlon Moore Jr. grabbed a defensive rebound and sailed coast-to-coast for a conventional 3-point play that capped the 11-0 run and put the hosts on top, 66-56, with 12:43 to play.
    With Meininger – WLU's only senior starter – battling foul trouble throughout, Moore took full advantage of his extended minutes with 11 points and 8 rebounds off the bench along with several hustle plays that didn't show up in the box score.
    "Marlon probably played his best game as a Hilltopper today," Howlett said. "He brings so much energy to the court and the more he plays, the better he gets."
    Tiffin battled back to tie the game, 71-71, on a Joshua Williams steal but Luke Dyer answered with a  clutch 3-pointer to put WLU ahead to stay.
    The 6-5 Yoakum scored on a rebound basket to make it 76-71 and followed a Dragon free throw with a  3-point play to open up a 79-72 lead as the clock ticked under 8 minutes. West Liberty led by as many as 11 points down the stretch before closing out the game at the foul line.
    Yoakum had a career-high 9 rebounds to go along with his team-high 23 points, many of which came on second- and third-chance points off offensive rebounds. Meininger finished with a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds despite seeing only 21 minutes of action due to fouls.
    "I think it's pretty significant that at the end of the game we were putting the ball in the hands of two freshmen and trusting them," Howlett said. "It's no surprise to us as coaches because we see how hard these guys work in practice every day.
    "I said from the start that we're a young basketball team that will continue to improve and develop as the season goes along. These guys (Hill and Yoakum) have played what, 11 college games now? That's nothing. I don't think they're done getting better."
    The Dragons were led by Shane Waldon's 23 points and 15 rebounds. Williams matched Waldon's 23 points while Austin Adams added 18 points and a dozen boards.
    The Hilltoppers won't hit the court again until Jan. 10 when they host West Virginia State in a 7:30 p.m. game at the ASRC.