WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. — After falling behind early, the West Liberty men's basketball team responded with grit, depth, and defensive pressure to earn an 84–67 win over California (Pa.) in Saturday night's Atlantic Region Crossover game at the ASRC.
The Hilltoppers (2–0) faced their first real adversity of the young season when Cal jumped out to a quick lead, capitalizing on back-to-back triples and active work on the glass. But West Liberty stayed composed, chipping away possession by possession. A balanced scoring approach—paired with early bench contributions—helped stabilize the game and prevent the Vulcans from stretching the margin.
Dante Spadafora's three at 18:40 brought WLU level at 5–5 and marked the start of a steady push. From there, the Hilltoppers leaned on their depth, pouring in 21 bench points in the first half alone. The game featured six ties and multiple lead changes before West Liberty finally found separation late.
Aiden Davis jump-started the late surge with a three-pointer at 3:28 and a midrange jumper moments later. Max Hurray followed with a go-ahead triple at the 1:44 mark—one WLU would never give back. Peter Lattos added a fast-break layup as the Hilltoppers closed the half on a 9–2 run to take a 38–33 lead.
The second half belonged to West Liberty.
The Hilltoppers amped up their defensive pressure, turning Cal over 16 times for 16 points, and controlled the paint on both ends. A decisive 14–2 burst midway through the half—highlighted by a Terrance Pankey Jr. three—stretched the lead into double digits. From there, Jamie Muldowney took over, pouring in several clutch shots and finishing with a game-high 21 points.
WLU's efficiency at the line (12-of-16) and continued bench dominance (42 total bench points) helped seal the victory.
Top Performers – West Liberty
Jamie Muldowney – 21 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists (4–of–6 from three)
Peter Lattos – 15 points on 7–of–8 shooting, 5 rebounds
Dante Spadafora – 11 points, 3 assists, 6–of–8 FT
Landon Butler – 7 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists
The Hilltoppers improve to 2–0 on the year, while California falls to 0–2.
Up Next:
West Liberty hits the road for the first time this season, traveling to Virginia Union on Tuesday, where they'll look to stay unbeaten in early nonconference play.
