WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. — The West Liberty University men's basketball team continued its early-season momentum this week, climbing to No. 13 in the latest NABC Division II Top 25 poll, released Monday afternoon. The Hilltoppers moved up three spots from last week following a commanding performance in their Mountain East Conference opener.
West Liberty earned the jump in the rankings after a 104–71 rout of Point Park on Saturday inside the ASRC. The Hilltoppers seized control from the opening tip, forcing 32 turnovers and piling up 20 steals, which led to a staggering 41 points off turnovers. Their relentless pace fueled a 60-point effort in the paint while the bench contributed 48 points, helping WLU dominate wire to wire.
Terrance Pankey Jr. set the tone early with an opening layup before West Liberty's trademark defensive pressure took over. The Hilltoppers forced 19 first-half turnovers, converting them into transition opportunities that helped build a 44–24 halftime lead. Xavier Harris attacked the rim for several early baskets, Landon Butler drilled a 3-pointer at the 10:40 mark, and Jamie Muldowney added key scoring bursts to expand the advantage.
The second half was more of the same. West Liberty opened with a layup from Peter Lattos and a Muldowney three, and Butler added a steal-and-score that pushed the Hilltoppers further ahead. Aiden Davis caught fire from long range, hitting back-to-back triples as WLU continued to control every phase of the game. The Hilltoppers outscored Point Park 60–47 after halftime to secure the 33-point victory.
Muldowney led all scorers with 21 points, shooting 7-of-10 from the field and 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. Pankey Jr. added 14 points, four assists, and three steals, while Butler delivered an efficient 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting. Harris rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points and a team-high five steals.
Now sitting at No. 13 nationally, West Liberty continues Mountain East Conference play on Wednesday with a road matchup at Charleston. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
