West Liberty, W.Va. – One of the biggest matchups of the season is set for Saturday at 4:00 p.m. as No. 10 West Liberty visits No. 11 Fairmont State in a battle for first place in the Mountain East Conference at Joe Retton Arena.

Both teams enter the contest tied atop the MEC standings at 19-3 overall and 14-2 in conference play. The game also carries significant weight in the regional rankings as the postseason approaches.

Last Meeting & Series History

West Liberty took the first matchup on Jan. 11 at home, rolling past Fairmont State 103-86 behind Kyler D'Augustino's 24 points.

The Hilltoppers have dominated the recent series, winning five straight and seven of the last eight, but historically, Fairmont State holds a 98-89 edge in the all-time series, which dates back 188 games—more than any other opponent in WLU history.

Offense vs. Defense: Strength vs. Strength

• West Liberty boasts the MEC's top offense, averaging 97.6 points per game.

• Fairmont State counters with the conference's best defense, allowing just 76.7 points per game.

• The Hilltoppers lead the MEC in three-pointers made (252, 11.0 per game), turnover margin (+8.65), assists (495, 21.52 per game), and steals (229, 9.96 per game).

Key Players to Watch

• West Liberty

  • Kyler D'Augustino (6th in MEC scoring, 17.3 ppg)

  • JJ Harper (10th in MEC scoring, 15.5 ppg)

  • Finley Woodward (2nd in MEC in assists, 4.4 per game)

  • Dante Spadafora (MEC leader in assist-to-turnover ratio, 3.7)

• Fairmont State

  • David Jolinder (8th in MEC scoring, 17.0 ppg)

  • Tommy Williams (2nd in MEC in steals, 2.0 per game)

  • Dante Spadafora (4th in MEC in steals, 1.8 per game)

Game Details

Saturday, Feb. 17
4:00 p.m.
Joe Retton Arena – Fairmont, W.Va.
No. 10 West Liberty (19-3, 14-2 MEC) vs. No. 11 Fairmont State (19-3, 14-2 MEC)