LAS VEGAS — No.12 West Liberty came up just short in a thrilling neutral-site battle, falling 88–87 to No. 7 Lubbock Christian on Sunday afternoon at South Point Arena as part of the DII Holiday Hoops Classic.
The Hilltoppers (8-2, 3-0 MEC) mounted an impressive second-half rally, pouring in 53 points after the break, but a last-second basket allowed Lubbock Christian (12-2, 3-1 Lone Star) to escape with the narrow victory. West Liberty forced 21 turnovers and recorded 13 steals, while the bench accounted for 65 points in a game that featured multiple momentum swings down the stretch.
West Liberty opened the contest with early perimeter success as Landon Butler and Max Hurray each connected from three-point range. Lubbock Christian answered with efficient shooting and strong work on the glass, building a steady advantage throughout the opening half. Despite contributions from Cameron Williams and the Hilltopper bench, West Liberty trailed 46–34 at intermission.
The Hilltoppers flipped the script in the second half, chipping away at the deficit with consistent scoring and defensive pressure. A layup by Xavier Harris at the 11:05 mark tied the game at 62–62 and ignited a back-and-forth battle the rest of the way. West Liberty briefly seized control when Williams knocked down a pair of free throws with 2:40 remaining to give the Hilltoppers an 83–79 edge.
The closing seconds delivered a dramatic finish. After Lubbock Christian reclaimed a one-point lead, Hayden Abdullah tipped in a basket with seven seconds remaining to put West Liberty back in front. However, Alex Anamekwe's last-second bucket sealed the 88–87 decision for the Chaps.
Williams led the Hilltoppers with 22 points, going 10-for-11 from the free-throw line while adding three steals. Butler finished with 12 points, connecting on three of five shots from long range. Peter Lattos chipped in eight points, two blocks, and two steals, while Myles Montgomery added 10 points and four assists.
West Liberty will now break for the holidays before returning to action on Jan. 3, when the Hilltoppers travel to Davis & Elkins to resume Mountain East Conference play.
