West Liberty, W.Va. – The West Liberty University men's basketball team is heading to the NCAA Tournament for a record-breaking 16th consecutive year, securing the No. 1 seed in the Atlantic Region. This achievement surpasses the previous record of 15 straight appearances set by Assumption (1963-77).

The Hilltoppers will host the regional tournament for the sixth time in program history, having previously done so in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2021. West Liberty has claimed seven regional titles, winning in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2021, and 2023.

Joining WLU in the Atlantic Region are:

• No. 2 Gannon

• No. 3 Virginia State

• No. 4 Fayetteville State

• No. 5 Fairmont State

• No. 6 West Chester

• No. 7 East Stroudsburg

• No. 8 Bluefield State

West Liberty has already faced five teams in this year's NCAA Tournament field—Bluefield State, Colorado School of Mines, Fairmont State, Missouri S&T, and West Chester—posting a solid 5-2 record against them.

Atlantic Regional Quarterfinal Schedule (Saturday)

• No. 6 West Chester vs. No. 3 Virginia State – 12:00 p.m.

• No. 7 East Stroudsburg vs. No. 2 Gannon – 2:30 p.m.

• No. 8 Bluefield State vs. No. 1 West Liberty – 6:00 p.m.

• No. 5 Fairmont State vs. No. 4 Fayetteville State – 8:30 p.m.
  
  
  
  
  
  
   

The Hilltoppers enter the tournament with a 27-4 overall record, leading the Mountain East Conference in multiple statistical categories, including:

• Scoring: 100.4 PPG

• Margin of Victory: 15.4 PPG

• Three-Pointers Made: 378 (12.2 per game)

• Turnovers Forced: 621

• Turnover Margin: +9.4

• Assist-to-Turnover Ratio: 2.1

• Assists: 697 (22.48 per game)

• Steals: 339 (10.9 per game)

 

West Liberty NCAA Tournament History: 

 

NCAA TOURNAMENT SCORES

 

2007

California (Pa.) 82, West Liberty 79, OT

 

2010

West Liberty 79, Alderson-Broaddus 66

West Liberty 90, St. Augustine's (N.C.) 83

Indiana (Pa.) 84, West Liberty 72

 

2011

West Liberty 117, Slippery Rock (Pa.) 73

West Liberty 98, Shaw (N.C.) 93

West Liberty 89, Indiana (Pa.) 86

West Liberty 113, Anderson (S.C.) 95

BYU-Hawaii 110, West Liberty 101

 

2012

West Liberty 119, East Stroudsburg (Pa.) 82

West Liberty 99, W.Va. Wesleyan 69

West Liberty 89, Shaw (N.C.) 78

Stonehill (Mass.) 91, West Liberty 90

 

2013

West Liberty 114, Bowie State (Md.) 82

West Liberty 100, Fairmont State 77

West Liberty 86, Indiana (Pa.) 63

West Liberty 110, Winona State (Minn.) 84

Metro State (Colo.) 83, West Liberty 76

 

2014

West Liberty 88, Glenville State 72

West Liberty 86, Indiana (Pa.) 85, 3OT

West Liberty 89, East Stroudsburg 82

West Liberty 85, Drury (Mo.) 75

West Liberty 86, South Carolina-Aiken 83

Central Missouri 84, West Liberty 77

 

2015

West Liberty 127, Livingstone (N.C.) 89

West Liberty 89, Fairmont State 59

Indiana (Pa.) 77, West Liberty 74

 

2016

West Liberty 90, Concord 69

West Liberty 84, Virginia State 74

West Liberty 84, Kutztown (Pa.) 63

West Liberty 75, Stonehill (Mass.) 74

Lincoln Memorial 103, West Liberty 102

 

2017

Wheeling Jesuit 96, West Liberty 95, OT

 

2018

Shippensburg (Pa.) 98, West Liberty 66

 

2019

West Liberty 106, East Stroudsburg 99, OT

West Liberty 82, Virginia State 80

Mercyhurst (Pa.) 82, West Liberty 70

 

2020

-Tournament canceled due to COVID-19

pandemic

 

2021

West Liberty 94, Malone 89

West Liberty 82, Charleston 63

West Liberty 78, Hillsdale 61

NW Missouri State 98, West Liberty 77

 

2022

W.Va. State 103, West Liberty 94, OT

 

2023

West Liberty 112, Pitt-Johnstown 88

West Liberty 86, Mercyhurst (Pa.) 72

West Liberty 70, Indiana (Pa.) 53

West Liberty 95, New Haven (Conn.) 58

West Liberty 87, Black Hills State (S.D.) 82

Nova Southeastern 111, West Liberty 101

 

2024

West Liberty 100, Millersville (Pa.) 78

Gannon (Pa.) 103, West Liberty 88