WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The eighth ranked West Liberty University men's basketball team hosts Notre Dame College for its first home conference game of the season tonight inside the ASRC.

THE BASICS
7:30 pm | Academic, Sports, and Recreation Complex (West Liberty, W.Va.)
Notre Dame (Ohio) (2-2, 1-0 MEC) vs. #8 West Liberty (4-0, 1-0 MEC)
Live stats and video links can be viewed here.

THE HILLTOPPERS
West Liberty took care of business in its MEC opener and first road game of the season at Alderson Broaddus on Saturday. Eclipsing the century mark for the first time this season, the Hilltoppers rolled to a 110-84 victory.

The Black and Gold are a perfect 4-0 throughout the early season, taking down a trio of PSAC opponents in the non-conference slate. The three-game homestand to start the year consisted of wins over Shepherd (91-68), Cal (Pa.) (94-85), and Pitt-Johnstown (93-76).

West Liberty is averaging a +18.7 scoring margin, netting 97 points per game and allowing 78.3 through the first four games. The Hilltoppers are hoisting an average 18 more shots than their opponents per game and 17 more three-point tries. WLU is 45-of-142 (31.7%) beyond the arc this year, Steve Cannady has drained 11 triples in 22 attempts for 50% shooting percentage to lead the team. The graduate transfer, Cannady is averaging 13.8 points per game, second on the team. Zach Rasile is the lone other Hilltopper with double-digit threes, at 10 (38.5%).

Bryce Butler leads a scoring attack that has five players averaging double digits. Butler is netting 25.3 points per game, ranking atop the MEC and ninth in DII. He has had two 30-point games on opening weekend along with a 25-point performance at AB. The junior guard also averages eight rebounds per game, fourth in the MEC, and has two double doubles this season.

Malik McKinney, Christian Montague, and Rasile all average 10 points per game. Montague also has 16 assists to lead a team that ranks fifth in DII at 22.8 assists per game.
The 'Topper press has been effective creating an average of 23.3 turnovers a game, ranking fourth in DII, for a +9.3 margin by the Black and Gold. West Liberty is also fourth in DII in steals per game, at 13.2. Alek West leads the MEC and is seventh in the nation with 12 swipes of his own.

THE FALCONS
Notre Dame has won two straight entering tonight, including a 20-point (91-71) triumph over Wheeling in the MEC opener on Saturday. The Falcons dropped the first two games of the year in the MEC/PSAC Challenge in Slippery Rock, falling to Seton Hill (100-73) and the host (82-72). A 36-point blowout of Bryant & Stratton (102-66) put them back on track leading into MEC play.

The Falcons are averaging 84.5 points per game and allowing 79.8 for a +4.7 margin. They have gone shot for shot with their opponents for the most part, but a 42.9% to 31% advantage is held beyond the arc for the Blue and Gold. Jaedon Willis is right behind Butler on the conference leaderboard, at 24.2 points per game. He is coming off a 28-pint, 10-rebound double-double versus Wheeling that featured a season-high 14 free throws. DeAirius Barker is the lone other Falcon averaging double figures, at 11.0 points per game. Barker has made just one start, but averages 25 minutes per game. He has posted double figures in each of the last two games including a season-high 18 at Wheeling on Saturday.

Notre Dame has won the rebounding battle in three of the four games featuring 16 and 18 offensive boards over the last two wins. The Falcons average the most boards in the MEC, at 41.75 per game. Five players average over four rebounds a game, led by Willis at 5.0. Kalil Camara has grabbed eight of his 17 boards on the offensive end.

A 30-turnover season opener shifted the numbers, but since the Falcons have taken better control of the basketball coughing up half of that season opening total against Wheeling while swiping an early season-high 12 steals. DeAirius Barker has eight steals and 12 assists to lead the team.

In exhibition play at the beginning of November, Notre Dame defeated Division I Cleveland State, 72-68, on the road. Willis and Barker led the way with 23 and 17 points, respectively.

THE SERIES
The Hilltoppers hold a 17-3 advantage all-time in a series that started in 2013. West Liberty has won the last eight on the hilltop, with a 105-88 victory coming most recently in February. The Falcons took one of two last season however, defending their home court last November with an 82-81 defeat of the Black and Gold.

NEXT UP
West Liberty will be back in action next Wednesday (November 30) in another home MEC battle, as West Virginia Wesleyan visits the hilltop. Tip off inside the ASRC is scheduled 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.