BUCKHANNON, W.Va. — The No.8 West Liberty Hilltoppers men's basketball return to the road Saturday afternoon for a Mountain East Conference matchup at West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats men's basketball. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. inside the Rockefeller Center.
West Liberty enters the weekend with an 18-3 overall record and a league-best 13-1 mark, riding an eight-game winning streak and sitting atop the MEC standings. The Hilltoppers continue to establish themselves as one of the most dangerous teams in NCAA Division II, ranking second nationally in scoring offense at 97.5 points per game while outscoring opponents by 17.1 points per contest, the seventh-best margin in the country.
The Hilltoppers' success is driven by a relentless pace and exceptional ball movement. West Liberty averages 18.7 assists per game, ranking sixth nationally, and shoots 49.0 percent from the field while knocking down 10.5 three-pointers per game. The Hilltoppers are also among the nation's most aggressive teams from beyond the arc, ranking 10th nationally in three-point attempts per game.
Depth continues to be a defining characteristic of West Liberty's attack. The Hilltoppers lead all of NCAA Division II in bench scoring, averaging 49.5 points per game from reserves, allowing them to maintain tempo and pressure for a full 40 minutes. Nine different players average at least 7.0 points per game, making matchup preparation difficult for opposing defenses.
Defensively, West Liberty has been equally imposing. The Hilltoppers rank third nationally in turnover margin (+8.1) and third in turnovers forced per game (20.5), while sitting fourth nationally in steals per game (12.3). That pressure frequently fuels transition opportunities, with West Liberty averaging 24.4 points off turnovers.
Individually, the Hilltoppers are led by Jamie Muldowney, who averages 13.3 points per game, while Cameron Williams (11.1 ppg), Myles Montgomery (11.0 ppg), and Dante Spadafora (10.5 ppg) also score in double figures. Aiden Davis provides perimeter shooting punch, connecting on 45.5 percent of his three-point attempts, while Peter Lattos anchors the interior with 8.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game on 64.0 percent shooting.
West Virginia Wesleyan enters Saturday at 2-18 overall and 1-12 in MEC play, averaging 73.5 points per game. The Bobcats will look to limit turnovers and control tempo against a West Liberty team that thrives when games become fast and chaotic.
Historically, West Liberty has enjoyed success in the series, holding an 81-67 all-time advantage and winning 30 of the last 31 meetings. Earlier this season, the Hilltoppers earned a 101-65 victory over Wesleyan at home, using a balanced scoring effort and defensive pressure to pull away early.
