ATHENS, W.Va. - Six players scored in double figures, as the No. 9 ranked West Liberty University men's basketball team posted its best shooting percentage in a game this season and handled Concord on the road this evening, 113-97.
An 18-2 run midway through the first half broke the game open and the Hilltoppers never looked back.
Malik McKinney scored seven points on the run, while West Liberty (12-1, 7-0) held the Mountain Lions to 1-of-8 shooting over a five minute span to build a 39-25 lead.
Concord (7-6, 4-3) showed some fight, bringing it back within four moments later, but a 15-2 spurt by the Black and Gold this time kept them in control. The Mountain Lions turned the ball over four times and got up just two shots while the Hilltoppers rebuilt the lead to 54-37. A couple late points by CU sent the game to the half with the 'Toppers ahead by 13.Â
The advantage stayed at double digits for nearly the entire second half, as West Liberty shot 69% over the final 20 minutes. The lead extended to as many as 22 (101-78), when
Chaz Hinds put the Hilltoppers over the century mark with just under six minutes remaining.
Bryce Butler finished with a game-high 21 points, going 8-for-12 from the floor in his seventh straight 20-point game, and was a rebound away from a double-double before fouling out with 2:35 left.
Ben Sarson posted 16 points in 17 minutes of action,
Christian Montague and
Steve Cannady each had 15 points, then
Malik McKinney and
Zach Rasile netted 12 apiece. Rasile led all shooters with four triples.Â
The Hilltoppers shot 58% in the game, while draining 16 threes and holding Concord to just four long balls. The Black and Gold assisted on 24 of their 40 made field goals. Cannady dished out six and Butler charted five to lead the team.
West Liberty will be back in action on Saturday playing host to Glenville State. TIp off inside the ASRC is set for 4 pm.
Follow Hilltopper basketball all season online at HilltopperSports.com and on Twitter (@WLU_Hoops | @WLathletics), Instagram (@wlu_mbb | @wlu_athletics), and Facebook.
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