West Liberty, W.Va. – The No. 7 West Liberty University men's basketball team is set to host No. 9 Fairmont State in a highly anticipated top-10 battle Saturday at 4 p.m. in the ASRC. The game holds significant implications as both teams vie for first place in the Mountain East Conference (MEC).

Hilltoppers Seek to Rebound

The Hilltoppers (11-2, 5-1 MEC) are aiming to snap a rare two-game losing streak, with their most recent setback coming in a nail-biting 102-100 defeat at Frostburg State on Wednesday. West Liberty has not lost three consecutive games since the 2020-21 season, making this matchup pivotal for momentum.

Falcons Flying High

Fairmont State (12-1, 7-0 MEC) enters the game on a three-game winning streak. The Falcons defeated Wheeling, 94-78, on Wednesday, and their only loss of the season came against Virginia Union (76-60) on Dec. 18—a team West Liberty bested, 84-71, earlier in the season.

Rivalry History

Saturday's clash will mark the 187th meeting between the two programs, the most frequent matchup in West Liberty's history. While Fairmont State leads the all-time series 98-88, the Hilltoppers have dominated recent history, winning 27 of the last 35 games, including the past four meetings.

Key Players to Watch

West Liberty

• Kyler D'Augustino: Leading the team with 18.7 points per game (ppg).

• JJ Harper: Averaging 15.6 ppg.

• Dante Spadafora: Adding 11.8 ppg.

• Finley Woodward: Contributing 10.8 ppg.

Fairmont State

• David Jolinder: Leading the Falcons with 18.1 ppg.

Team Comparisons

West Liberty

• Leads the MEC in scoring with 93.6 ppg.

• Tops the league in forced turnovers (18.9 per game), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.87), and assists per game (21.8).

• Second in steals, averaging 9.92 per game (129 total).

Fairmont State

• Holds opponents to just 75.5 ppg, third-best in the MEC.

• Second in turnover margin (4.08) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.33), trailing only West Liberty.

Milestone Watch

Head coach Ben Howlett is nearing a significant career milestone. Entering Saturday's game, he has a 198-34 record and an impressive .853 winning percentage. A win would put Howlett just one victory shy of 200 career wins.

What's at Stake

With Fairmont State leading the MEC standings and West Liberty looking to bounce back, this game will have implications for regional and national rankings. Fans can expect an electric atmosphere as two of the MEC's top teams battle for supremacy.

Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. at the ASRC. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to secure seats for this marquee matchup.