Elkins, W.Va. – In the toughest challenge thus far in 2023-24, the No. 2 West Liberty University men's basketball team went on the road and defeated a gritty Davis & Elkins squad that gave the Hilltoppers everything they had in the 91-85 win on Saturday night. While the Black & Gold led for all but 30 seconds in the contests, the Senators were as close as three points in the closing minutes in search of the upset bid.
 
QUICK DETAILS
Final Score: No. 2 West Liberty 91, Davis & Elkins 85
Team Records: No. 2 West Liberty 7-0 (3-0 MEC), Davis & Elkins 5-3 (3-1 MEC)
Attendance: 250
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Davis & Elkins scored the game's opening basket seven seconds into the game, but West Liberty responded with a 16-3 scoring run sparked by a 3-pointer Chaz Hinds to break open the lead and force a Senator timeout with 15:05 left in the half as the Hilltoppers took a 16-5 lead. The scoring run continued out of the timeout as Dante Spadafora knocked down three free throws to extend the lead to 21-7 with 14:00 remaining.
• West Liberty built the lead up to 15 points after a layup by Finley Woodward to put WLU up 29-14 with 11:32 to play. Following a layup by Spadafora to maintain the 15 point lead, D&E went on a 6-0 run to begin chipping the lead down to single digits. The Senators were able to get within seven points at 36-29 with 6:17 left in the half before West Liberty turned the momentum again.
• A 10-2 Hilltopper scoring run gave them the largest lead of the game with 3:04 remaining in the first after a pair of free throws by Alek West, but once again the Senators had an answer as the closed the half on an 11-2 scoring run to cut the lead down to single digits entering halftime. WLU went into the break with a 50-42 advantage.
• West Liberty opened the second half with a 3-pointer by Christian Montague and a layup by Zach Rasile to push the lead back to double digits at 55-42. The Hilltoppers proceeded to grow the lead up to 16 points as the scoring run extended to 10-2 with Montague adding another layup and Rasile adding another 3-pointer.
• Just as they had done all game long, Davis & Elkins had another answer to stay within striking distance as an 8-2 run of their own cut the lead back down to ten before West Liberty ended a scoring drought of 2:45.
• After momentarily leading by 15 points yet again after a 3-pointer by Montague with 13:16 left in the game, the Senators posted an 8-0 run that brought them within seven points with 10:30 to play.
• The WLU lead stayed within the 5-10 point range until one last charge from D&E saw a dunk energize the arena as the lead was down to four, however, West Liberty freshman Kyler Daugustino knocked down a critical jumper in the paint to quiet the crowd entering the final media timeout with 4:48 to play.
• After a 3-pointer for Davis & Elkins cut the lead to 82-79, West Liberty scored six unanswered points to shut down on the upset bid. The Senators got back within two possessions at 89-85 with 13 seconds remaining, but Ben Sarson iced the game at the free throw line as he knocked down a pair.
• West Liberty shot 31-of-72 (43.1%) from the field, 9-of-27 (33.3%) from 3-point range, and 20-of-30 (66.7%) from the free throw line compared to 31-of-66 (47.0%) from the field, 3-of-16 (18.8%) from 3-point range, and 20-of-30 (66.7%) from the free throw line for Davis & Elkins.
• The Hilltoppers converted 17 Senator turnovers into 28 points off turnovers, and they assisted on 17 of 31 made baskets.
• Montague led four players in double figures scoring with 18 points, while Woodward added 16 points, and Rasile and Hinds each scored 11 apiece.
• WLU had five players knock down a shot from beyond the arc, led by Hinds and Montague with three apiece.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS
Christian Montague: 18 points, 3-of-3 3-pointers, 3 assists, 2 rebounds
Finley Woodward: 16 points, 8-of-13 field goals, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
Zach Rasile: 11 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist
Chaz Hinds: 11 points, 3-of-5 3-pointers, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
 
UP NEXT
West Liberty will stay on the road next week and face another opponent who is undefeated in MEC play as they will travel to the state capital to square off with Charleston on Wednesday, December 6. The Hilltoppers and Golden Eagles are set for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off inside the Wehrle Innovation Center.