West Liberty, W.Va. – The No. 5-ranked West Liberty University men's basketball team is set to take on Davis & Elkins in the quarterfinals of the Mountain East Conference (MEC) Tournament on Friday at WesBanco Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT FOR WLU
The Hilltoppers, ranked No. 6 nationally, closed out their regular season in dominant fashion with a 119-103 victory over Wheeling, securing their eighth consecutive MEC Regular Season Championship. This marks their 11th conference title in the 12-year history of the MEC.
SERIES HISTORY VS. DAVIS & ELKINS
Friday's matchup will be the 115th all-time meeting between the two programs. West Liberty holds a commanding 86-29 series lead, including 26 consecutive wins over the Senators.
In their first meeting this season on December 7, the Hilltoppers claimed a 107-93 victory at the ASRC, led by Dante Spadafora's 23 points and Kameron Tinsley's 20. The second matchup on February 5 in Elkins saw WLU secure a 78-66 win, with Kyler D'Augustino scoring 15 points and Finley Woodward adding 14.
TOPPERS ON TOP OF THE ATLANTIC REGION
West Liberty continues to hold the No. 1 spot in the final Atlantic Region rankings released on Wednesday. Their postseason destiny will be officially announced during the NCAA Division II Selection Show on Sunday at 10:30 p.m.
MEC STAT LEADERS
West Liberty has dominated statistical categories in the MEC, leading in multiple areas:
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Scoring: 100.5 points per game
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Margin of Victory: +15.3
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Three-Pointers Made: 332 total (11.9 per game)
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Turnovers Forced: 552 total
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Turnover Margin: +9.29
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Assist-Turnover Ratio: 2.2
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Total Assists: 627 (22.39 per game)
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Total Steals: 292 (10.4 per game)
TOPPER LEADERS
WEST LIBERTY TOURNAMENT HISTORY
West Liberty has built a strong legacy in the MEC Tournament, holding a 23-7 (.766) all-time record. The Hilltoppers have reached the tournament championship game eight times and have won the title on four occasions (2017, 2020, 2022, 2023). Under Head Coach Ben Howlett, WLU boasts a 15-4 record in the MEC Tournament, including three championships (2020, 2022, 2023).
