WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The eighth ranked West Liberty University men's basketball team will begin its Mountain East Conference title defense this afternoon on the road at Alderson Broaddus. The Hilltoppers won their 5th straight regular season title and third MEC tournament title in 2021-22. They are the top-ranked team in the preseason coaches poll for the fifth straight season.

THE BASICS
4:00 pm | Rex Pyles Arena (Philippi, W.Va.) | Mountain East Conference Opener
#8 West Liberty (3-0) at Alderson Broaddus (0-2)
Live stats and video links can be viewed here.

THE HILLTOPPERS
West Liberty began the season with a three-game homestand and went 3-0 in front of the Hilltopper faithful. The Black and Gold took down Shepherd, 91-68, and Cal (Pa.), 94-85, in the Atlantic Region Crossover last weekend, then defeated Pitt-Johnstown on Wednesday, 93-76.

Over the first three games, the Hilltoppers hold a +16.4-scoring margin over their opponents (92.7-76.3). West Liberty has converted 46.9% of their field goal attempts and 31.5% from beyond the arc. The Black and Gold has hoisted 49 more shots and 57 more three pointers than opponents this season thanks to a +7.7-turnover margin. Alek West has swiped 10 steals to lead the team, while also dishing out nine assists and committing just one turnover this season. On the boards, WLU holds a slight +4.4 edge overall and has pulled down double-digit offensive rebounds in each game.

Reigning MEC Player of the Week Bryce Butler leads the way averaging 25.3 points and 9.7 rebounds through the early season. The junior from Latrobe, Pa. posted his second double-double of the season on Wednesday with 11 points and 10 rebounds, while also charting five steals and four assists. Steve Cannady has made nine three pointers (52.9%) this season and is one of four Hilltoppers averaging double figures, at 14.0. Malik McKinney is coming off a career-high 24 points in the win over Pitt-Johnstown to bring his season average up to 11.3. Christian Montague has filled the stat sheets in the early season with a team-leading 13 assists along with 10.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.

THE BATTLERS
Alderson Broaddus dropped both of its games last weekend in the MEC/PSAC Challenge at Slippery Rock. The Battlers suffered a tough, 68-62, loss to the hosts in the opener after leading by six at the half, then Seton Hill rolled past Alderson Broaddus, 87-51, last Saturday.

The Battlers are shooting 34.2% from the field and has gone just 5-for-29 from deep in the early going for an average of 56.5 points per game. Opponents are converting field goals nearly half the time against Alderson Broaddus, shooting 47.7% for an average of 77.5 points a game.

AB has posted an advantage on the glass in each of the first two games, including a 30-18 edge on the offensive end. Sophomore forward Jon King leads the team with seven offensive boards and tied Jalen Collins with 14 total on opening weekend.

King and Zach Simpkins lead the scoring, each averaging double digits through two games. King poured in 17 in the season opener then added eight against Seton Hill. Simpkins has two of the team's five three pointers and averaged 11 points during the trip to Slippery Rock.
Last season, the Battlers went 14-16 overall and 9-13 in MEC play with a 7-6 mark in their home gym. This will be their home opener for the 2022-23 season.

THE SERIES
The Hilltoppers hold an 83-72 advantage all-time. West Liberty has won the last 11 meetings and has eclipsed the century mark in the last four wins. Last season, the Black and Gold swept the series with a 100-70 on the home court and a 107-70 victory in Philippi.

NEXT UP
West Liberty will return to the hilltop on Tuesday to host Notre Dame College. TIp off inside the ASRC is slated for 7:30 pm.

Follow Hilltopper basketball all season online at HilltopperSports.com and on Twitter (@WLU_Hoops | @WLathletics), Instagram (@wlu_mbb | @wlu_athletics), and Facebook.