CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Dalton Bolon scored 25 points and the No. 12-ranked West Liberty University men's basketball team handed Charleston its first home loss of the season, 98-89, Saturday afternoon at the Wehrle Center.
    Coach Ben Howlett's Hilltoppers (11-2, 7-1) shot 57 percent from the floor - including a sizzing 60 percent from the 3-point arc - to snap the Golden Eagles' (9-5, 4-4) six-game home win streak.
    After opening up a 48-37 halftime lead, West Liberty had to battle through significant foul trouble over the final 20 minutes. The Hilltoppers lost two players on fouls and had four other players with four personal fouls coming down the stretch.
    That opened the door for UC to chip away at the deficit from the foul line. The Golden Eagles got as close as 74-73 following a pair of Drew Rackley free throws with 6:36 to go but that's where West Liberty slammed the door.
    Back-to-back baskets by Luke Dyer and Eric Meininger sparked what proved to be a decisive 15-3 Hilltopper run over the next three minutes.
    After Marlon Moore drained a dagger of a 3-pointer to restore the double-digit margin, 86-75, Bolon capped the surge with a spinning jumper in the lane for an 88-75 lead at the 3:30 mark and Charleston never threatened again.
    Freshman guard Yahel Hill backed Bolon with 19 points – 11 of them in the second half – while Moore had another big game off the bench with 17 points before fouling out. Senior post Eric Meininger rounded out the double-figure scorers with a dozen points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists before also exiting the game on fouls.
    The Hilltoppers shot 36-of-63 (57 percent) from the floor and were 9-of-15 (60 percent) from the 3-point line. After shooting just 4 free throws in the first half, they went 14-of-15 from the stripe in the second half, with many of them coming as Charleston fouled down the stretch.
    West Liberty was whistled for a season-high 30 fouls and UC took full advantage, going 35-for-41 from the charity stripe. The Golden Eagles also shot 52 percent (26-of-50) from the floor but were just 2-of-13 (15 percent) from the 3-point arc.
    Rackley went 14-of-16 from the foul line to pace four double-figure scorers for the Golden Eagles with 28 points.
    The Hilltoppers return home to host UVa-Wise on Thursday. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at the ASRC.