WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Liberty University men's basketball team is in the MEC Tournament championship for the fifth straight season and will look to become the first team to win back-to-back titles in tournament history vying for its fourth all-time since the creation of the league in 2013-14.

THE BASICS
Mountain East Conference Tournament | WesBanco Arena (Wheeling, W.Va.)
Championship (Sunday, March 5 – 5:00 pm)
No. 1 Seed – #5 West Liberty (27-3, 20-2 MEC) vs. No. 2 Seed – Fairmont State (24-6, 17-5 MEC)
Live stats and video links will be available here, fans can also watch live on AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh.

THE HILLTOPPERS
West Liberty ended the regular season on a 10-game winning streak and has extended it to 12 with a pair of tournament victories this week, their longest of the season. WLU started the season 9-0, then after a hiccup in the first game in Las Vegas against Lubbock Christian, the Black and Gold rattled off five wins in a row. A convincing loss at Fairmont State (101-76) started a rough one-week span, which added a road loss to crosstown rival Wheeling (114-107). The Hilltoppers regrouped with a dominating 104-69 win over D&E the next Wednesday at home and took the momentum into the playoffs not losing since.
 
REGULAR SEASON CHAMPS AGAIN
West Liberty won its sixth straight MEC regular season title this season. The Hilltoppers have won nine regular season titles in the 10-year history of the conference. WLU was the sole regular season champion in 2014, 15, 18, 19, 20, and 22, then won the North Division in 2021 (the lone year with divisions) and shared the title with Wheeling Jesuit in 2016. Fairmont State was the only other sole champion in 2017. The Hilltoppers dynasty dates to 2010, when they were members of the WVIAC winning the league in 2010, 11, 12, 13, and 14 before the creation of the MEC making it 13 of the last 14 years that West Liberty has been regular season conference champions.
 
WINNINGEST ACTIVE COACH IN THE NCAA
The win at Frostburg State was Head Coach Ben Howlett's 150th career win at the helm of the Hilltoppers. Five wins since improves his career record to 155-24 all-time. Howlett is the winningest active head men's basketball coach across all NCAA divisions (minimum five seasons) with an .865 winning percentage.
 
BUTLER REPEATS AS POY; MCKINNEY AND MONTAGUE EARN SECOND TEAM
West Liberty's Bryce Butler, a 6'5" guard from Latrobe, Pa, followed up last year's Atlantic Region and MEC Player of the Year honors with another impressive season to become the third back-to-back MEC Player of the Year in conference history alongside WLU's Dalton Bolon in 2019-20 and 2020-21 and Seger Bonifant in 2014-15 and 2015-16. The Hilltoppers have now had the last four MEC Player of the Year honorees and seven in the 10 year history of the league. Christian Montague was named second team for the first time in his career after earning All-GMAC honors while at Walsh earlier in his career, then Malik McKinney earned his first all-conference honor also on second team.
 
STAT CHECK
The Hilltoppers are in the top three in Division II in nine statistical categories and lead the country in four. They lead the country in three pointers per game (12.7), three-point attempts per game (33.3), assists per game (22.5), and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.9). WLU ranks second in scoring offense (100.8 points per game), scoring margin (+19.3), turnovers forced per game (19.9), and steals per game (11.2). Then, ranks third in turnover margin (+7.9).
 
West Liberty hit the century mark in five straight games to end the regular season and has done so 16 times this season. In the tournament WLU has netted 96 each game. The Hilltoppers have recorded 22 of their 27 wins by double digits, including each of their last four. WLU is shooting 49.3% from the field and 38.0% from beyond the arc, meanwhile opponents are netting 81.5 points per game by converting at a 48.0% rate from the field and 33.8% clip from deep. WLU hoisted double-digit more shot attempts than opponents in 16 of the 30 games. The Black and Gold has dished out 20-plus assists in 22 of their 30 games this season.
 
The Hilltoppers have forced 20 or more turnovers 15 times this season and three of the last four, including 21 in the semifinal win over Notre Dame.
 
WLU has drained double-digit threes in 24 outings and hit 20 or more four times, most recently draining 20 versus Concord, in which they set an NCAA DII single-game record having 12 different players record a made three pointer, on February 11. WLU has made double-digit threes in 13 of the last 14 games and seven straight. They have held opponents to single digit three pointers in 25 of the 30 games, including five straight and 12 of the last 14.
 
BUTLER LEADS THE WAY
Butler leads the MEC in scoring and is top-15 in DII at 22.3 points per game, while making the second-most field goals of any DII player (271). He is shooting 58.9% from the floor in the regular season, the third-best mark in the conference. Butler also leads the team in rebounding, at 7.6 boards per game, the fourth-most in the MEC, ranks fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.90), and averages 3.7 assists per game (2^nd on the team and 8^th in MEC). He has posted a double-double in three straight games including a career-high 16 rebounds in last night's semifinal, and has 10 double-doubles on the season. Butler has netted double-digits in all 30 games, he scored 20-plus 22 times, including four of the last six, and has three 30-point outings. He has been West Liberty's leading scorer in 22 of the 28 games and three straight. Butler has had six assists in four different outings, including in the win over Fairmont State, which he also scored 27 points, and had a season-high seven in the home win over Notre Dame. He has had four-plus assists in five of the last seven games and has swiped multiple steals in six of the last eight with four last night. Butler is a five-time MEC Player of the Week and was named the D2CIDA National Player of the Week on December 13 after his game-winning shot over WVSU at home. He was also named Academic All-District last week for the second straight season alongside teammates Steve Cannady, Zach Rasile, and Ben Sarson.
 
TOTAL TEAM EFFORT
Five Hilltoppers average double-digit points per game. Christian Montague (12.2), Malik McKinney (12.0), Steve Cannady (11.0), and Ben Sarson (11.0) all join Butler (22.3). McKinney (54.8%) and Butler (58.9%) are making over half their shot attempts.
 
Three Hilltoppers shoot 40% or better from beyond the arc, Rasile leads at 45.5%, then Montague (44.4%), Butler (41.7%).
 
Four 'Toppers are in the top-five in the MEC in assist-to-turnover ratio, Cannady (1^st – 2.93), Montague (2^nd – 2.80), Alek West (3^rd – 2.44), and Butler (5^th – 1.90).
 
10 Hilltoppers average over 10 minutes per game with Butler leading all players, at 28.5 minutes on the court.
 
INDIVIDUAL HIGHLIGHTS
Montague scored a career-high 30 points in the win over Fairmont State and pulled in a team-high eight rebounds, the first player other than Bryce Butler to lead the team in points and rebounds in a game this season. Montague pulled in a team-high seven rebounds in last Wednesday's win at NDC, the second straight game leading the team on the boards. Montague is second on the team, averaging 2.13 triples per game, while shooting 44.4% from three. He leads the team averaging 3.8 assists per game and tied his season-high with seven in the win at Notre Dame on Feb. 22. He has had four-plus assists in 13 of the last 17 outings, including a tie of the team-high four in the semifinals. Montague also ranks seventh in the MEC with 45 steals (2^nd on the team). He has scored double-digits 19 times with two above 20 points (26 & 30) and posted 19 with a tie of his season-high five three pointers (for the third time) in the regular season finale versus Wheeling. Montague went over 1,000 career points between Walsh and West Liberty with a previous career-high of 26 points in the home matchup against Frostburg State on January 11.
 
Cannady, a graduate transfer from Mercyhurst, scored a season-high 22 points with four three pointers in the loss at Wheeling starting a streak of double digits scoring efforts in seven of nine games following. Cannady has posted 10-plus 17 times in his first season dawning the Black and Gold and got back in double figures in the semifinal win after three straight games of 5, 8, and 7. He has dished out multiple assists in 12 of the last 16 games, including six in the win over Fairmont State, averaging 2.9 assists per game and ranks sixth in the MEC in steals with a team-high 47 on the season averaging 1.6 per game.
 
Rasile is top-five in the MEC averaging 2.33 three pointers per game and is shooting a team-best 45.5% from deep. The sophomore guard tied his career-high with five triples for the fourth time in the recent home win over Concord and has hit seven in the two tournament games thus far. Rasile also tied his career-high for the second time this season with three steals versus Wheeling and has recorded at least one in 15 of the last 16 games.
 
Ben Sarson, a 6'6" sophomore forward, had a team-high in rebounds in four straight games, from Feb. 8-18, including a career-high (11) at Glenville State on February 8. Sarson scored a team-leading 20 points at Notre Dame last week, his second game hitting 20-plus, he has netted double figures 17 times this season including four straight outings. He is shooting a team-best 84.0% from the line. Sarson has made a three in each of the last 13 games, including a career-high five last Wednesday at NDC. He averages 1.83 three pointers per game.
 
McKinney, a senior guard from Bowie, Md., recently eclipsed 1,000 career points in the Hilltopper uniform becoming the 55^th player in West Liberty history to join the club. He has scored double digits 18 times this season, including seven of the last eight, and hit the 20 mark three times with a pair of 24-point outings. He posted 17 points in the regular season finale, his highest scoring outing of the eight-game stretch, on 6-for-9 shooting and a pair of threes, and is coming off 13 in last night's semifinal. McKinney has attempted 109 free throws this season (second on the team behind Butler's 133) and is shooting 80.7%, he has converted 22 of his last 24 trips to the line since the February 1 game at West Virginia State.
 
West, a junior guard in his first season on the hilltop, scored a season-best 17 points with two threes and a 9-for-9 effort at the free throw line in the win over Fairmont State at home. He added a second straight double-digit scoring effort at Notre Dame. West averages 6.7 points per game and has hit double-digits seven times including an 11-point outing in the quarterfinals. He has had multiple assists in 13 of the last 16 games and averages 2.9 per game. West also is top-10 in the MEC with 44 steals this season.
 
Chaz Hinds has six double-digit games and one double-double (15 pts – 11 reb at AB in the conference opener) in his first season on the hilltop and is averaging 6.2 points per game.
 
Michael Sampson also recorded one double-double in his first season in the Black and Gold with a 13-point, 11-rebound outing in the win at home against Frostburg State.
 
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
West Liberty finished the regular season with a perfect 14-0 home record, the first undefeated home season since 2016-17, when WLU went 16-0. The Hilltoppers went 10-2 on the road and 1-1 in neutral site contests, both played in Las Vegas in late December.
 
RECORD SUPERLATIVES
WLU is 22-0 when shooting over 46% from the field and has shot 51.5% and 52.5% in the first two tournament games, and 18-0 when shooting 34% or better from three. The Hilltoppers are 19-0 when recording double-digit steals, and has done so in four straight and six of the last seven games, and are 22-0 when forcing 17 or more turnovers.

THE FIGHTING FALCONS
Fairmont State enters the two seed and winners of four straight games. The Fighting Falcons scored a 77-72 win in the quarterfinals over Glenville State and 76-65 semifinal victory over Davis & Elkins.
 
The Fighting Falcons average 93.3 points per game and have a +14 scoring margin on the season. They are shooting 50% from the field and 39.1% from beyond the arc averaging 10.7 three pointers per game. Fairmont State owns a +3.6 rebounding margin and +1.2 turnover margin.
 
Isaiah Sanders leads the team scoring 19.2 points per game and was a first team All-MEC selection, while George Mangas (14.7 ppg / 5.3 rpg) was named second team and Zyon Dobbs (11.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg, and 5.1 apg) was selected honorable mention. Five players average double digits, Briggs Parris (12.4 ppg) and Fonz Hale (12.0) join the three all-conference selections.
 
SERIES HISTORY
The teams split the regular season series with each defending its home court. The Falcons have the slight edge all-time (98-85) against the Hilltoppers heading into the 184th meeting between the schools. The first meeting was 99 years ago in the 1923-24 inaugural season for WLU, Fairmont State won the matchup 39-26. In recent history, West Liberty has won 24 of the 31 meetings since 2010.
 
In MEC Tournament action the Hilltoppers are 3-1 versus Fairmont State. This will be the third championship meeting between the sides, WLU won the 2017 championship matchup and Fairmont State claimed gold over WLU in 2021. Last season, the Hilltoppers defeated Fairmont State, 117-96, in the semifinals on way to their tournament victory.
 
Earlier this season (January 14 at Fairmont): WLU (76) – Fairmont State (101)
Fairmont State defended its home court in January handing West Liberty its first conference loss of the season. The Hilltoppers battled back-and-forth with the Fighting Falcons throughout the opening 13 minutes and held a lead of as many as six early on. After a layup at the 7:10 mark, West Liberty did not make a field goal the remainder of the first half. Fairmont State scored 15 of the final 19 points before the break capped off by a slam dunk to give the Falcons their largest lead of the game heading to the locker room. West Liberty was unable to string more than two field goals in a row together in the second half, as the Falcons kept their lead at double digits the entire way. Fairmont State shot 51.6% from three (16-for-31) and held the Hilltoppers to 30% shooting (9-for-30) beyond the arc. The Falcons also held the edge in the paint, 36-24, and on the fast break, 18-10. Christian Montague led the team in scoring for the second straight game netting 15 points, while Bryce Butler posted his fourth double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
 
(February 18 at West Liberty): Fairmont State (113) – WLU (119) OT
West Liberty won an instant classic, 119-113, in overtime over visiting Fairmont State inside a packed ASRC. After battling back in the second half to send the game to overtime, WLU started the extra period by scoring seven straight points and held on for the victory. Christian Montague scored a career-high 30 points on 11-for-13 shooting and a perfect 4-for-4 mark from beyond the arc. His fourth three-pointer kickstarted the 7-0 run for the Black and Gold at the beginning of OT to take control of the game. The Hilltoppers never trailed in overtime and went 7-for-8 from the free throw line to seal the deal. The game featured 16 ties and 16 lead changes. West Liberty got up by 11 early in the second half and capped off the 9-2 run with an emphatic Bryce Butler slam dunk to force a Falcon timeout. Fairmont State battled right back scoring 13 of the next 15 points to tie the game at 70 with just over 14 minutes to play. The Falcons held the lead all the way until a 7-0 Hilltopper run gave WLU a 98-97 lead approaching one minute left. Trailing by one with about 10 seconds left, McKinney forced a jump ball in the corner and gave the Black and Gold the ball back. Sarson split a pair of free throws the next possession to send the game to OT, where WLU came out firing and never looked back.

MEC TOURNAMENT HISTORY
West Liberty is the defending MEC Tournament champions and has three tournament crowns to its record. WLU has been the one seed in nine tournaments and has a 20-6 overall record in MEC Tournament action, the most wins of any team.
 
Under Coach Howlett, the Hilltoppers are now 13-3 in their sixth tournament and have two titles.
 
West Liberty has had three tournament MVPs (Pat Robinson – 2022, Will Yoakum – 2020, and Devin Hoehn – 2017) and has been represented on all nine all-tournament teams. In 2014 Seger Bonifant won the tournament sportsmanship award and in 2016 he led the tournament in scoring with a 32.5 average. Yahel Hill was the second Hilltopper to lead the tournament in scoring with 23.6 points per game in 2019. WLU has won two heart and hustle awards (2014 – CJ Hester and 2021 – Pat Robinson).
 
Year by Year Results:
2014 - #1 seed: Loss in championship.
2015 - #1 seed: Loss in semifinals.
2016 - #1 seed: Loss in semifinals in 2OT.
2017 - #2 seed: Won championship.
2018 - #1 seed: Loss in semifinals.
2019 - #1 seed: Loss in championship.
2020 - #1 seed: Won championship.
2021 - #1 seed in North: Loss in championship.
2022 - #1 seed: Won championship.
2023 - #1 seed: QF – W, 96-72 over #8 Concord RECAP, SEMI – W, 96-75 over #5 Notre Dame RECAP

TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
Follow all the action of both men's and women's tournaments online by visiting the MEC Tournament Central page here.

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