West Liberty, W.Va. – The top-seeded West Liberty Hilltoppers will battle No. 2 seed Gannon on Tuesday night with a trip to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight on the line.
This marks West Liberty's (29-4) 11th appearance in the Atlantic Region championship game—and impressively, all 11 have come within the past 15 seasons. The Hilltoppers have won seven regional titles during that span (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2021, and 2023) and boast an 18-1 record in NCAA Tournament games played at the ASRC. Overall, WLU is 37-15 in tournament history.
Gannon (27-6) is looking to secure back-to-back Atlantic Region championships after winning last year's title. The Golden Knights eliminated West Liberty in the 2024 regional semifinals, posting a 103-88 victory.
How They Got Here
West Liberty reached the championship game with a pair of dominant performances. The Hilltoppers took down Bluefield State 91-84 in the quarterfinals, led by JJ Harper's 16 points and seven rebounds. Kyler D'Augustino contributed 15 points and three assists, while Kameron Tinsley recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 boards.
In the semifinals, WLU cruised past Fayetteville State 89-69, fueled by a balanced attack. Dante Spadafora and Lanyc Shuler scored 16 points each, with Kyler D'Augustino and Finley Woodward adding 13 apiece. Six different Hilltoppers finished in double figures.
Gannon also dominated its path to the final. The Golden Knights up only one-point at the half rolled past East Stroudsburg 99-74 in the quarterfinals, powered by Tasman Goodrick's 27-point, 11-rebound performance and Pace Prosser's 20 points.
In the semifinals, Gannon dismantled Virginia State 92-66 behind a career-high 32 points from Ernest Shelton.
Head-to-Head History
West Liberty has never beaten Gannon, trailing the all-time series 0-5. Prior to last season's postseason loss, the teams had not faced off since the 2002-03 campaign.
Stat Leaders & Team Comparisons
West Liberty (National & MEC Leaders)
- Turnover Margin: 1st (8.9)
- Scoring: 2nd (101.0 ppg)
- Assist-Turnover Ratio: 2nd (2.1)
- Assists Per Game: 2nd (22.5)
- Three-Pointers Per Game: 3rd (12.1)
- Three-Point Attempts Per Game: 4th (32.6)
- Turnovers Forced Per Game: 4th (19.7)
- Bench Points Per Game: 5th (37.2)
- Fastbreak Points Per Game: 5th (20.8)
- Steals Per Game: 11th (10.6)
Top Performers:
Gannon
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Scoring: 90.8 ppg
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Top Performers:
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Ernest Shelton: 17.3 ppg
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Tasman Goodrick: 15.6 ppg, 10.6 rpg
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Pace Prosser: 14.2 ppg, 4.4 apg, 1.9 spg
A win Tuesday would secure West Liberty's seventh 30-win season in program history and its first since 2022-23.
Game Details:
Tuesday, 7 p.m.
ASRC – West Liberty, W.Va.
NCAA Atlantic Region Championship
Gannon (27-6) vs. West Liberty (29-4)
The winner advances to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in Evansville, Ind., on March 25-29.
