West Liberty, W.Va. — The No. 2 seed West Liberty University men's basketball team will open play in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional on Saturday when the Hilltoppers face No. 7 seed Virginia Union at the Highmark Events Center in Erie, Pa.

Tipoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. as West Liberty begins its pursuit of another regional title.

The Hilltoppers enter the tournament with a 27-4 record after capturing both the Mountain East Conference regular season and tournament championships. West Liberty's selection marks the program's record 17th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, breaking the Division II record the Hilltoppers set last season with 16 straight berths. It is also the 18th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history.

West Liberty once again features one of the most explosive offenses in Division II basketball.

The Hilltoppers rank second nationally in scoring offense (98.8 points per game) and eighth in scoring margin (+15.8). Their fast-paced style also shows up in several other national statistical categories:

• 3rd in steals per game (12.4)
   

• 3rd in turnovers forced per game (20.2)
   

• 4th in turnover margin (+7.5)
   

• 6th in assists per game (18.5)
   

• 9th in three-pointers per game (10.6)
   

West Liberty is also eighth in the nation in total three-pointers made (328) while shooting 48.9 percent from the field as a team.

The Hilltoppers have relied on a deep and balanced roster throughout the season, with eight players averaging at least 5.0 points per game.

Senior forward Jamie Muldowney leads the team with 14.3 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, while freshman guard Myles Montgomery averages 13.9 points per contest and leads the team with 89 steals which ranks third in the nation and is a WLU freshman record.

Freshman guard Cameron Williams adds 12.3 points per game, while Dante Spadafora contributes 10.2 points and ranks among the team leaders in assists.

Inside, Peter Lattos provides an efficient scoring presence, shooting 63.7 percent from the field while averaging 9.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.

Saturday's matchup will be a rematch from earlier this season.

The two teams met on Nov. 18 in Richmond, Va., where Virginia Union handed West Liberty a 94-88 loss at Barco-Stevens Hall in the Hilltoppers' first road game of the season.

In that game, West Liberty rallied in the second half but could not overcome a large turnover deficit. The Panthers scored 38 points off turnovers to hold off the Hilltoppers.

Dante Spadafora led West Liberty with 19 points, while Max Hurray added 16 points and Jamie Muldowney recorded 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Virginia Union enters the NCAA Tournament with a 24-5 record after posting a 13-3 mark in CIAA play.

The Panthers rely on strong defense and rebounding, allowing just 59.9 points per game, one of the best defensive marks in Division II. Virginia Union also averages 11.3 steals per game, creating a matchup between two of the nation's most aggressive defensive teams.

Offensively, Virginia Union is led by Malachi Dark (11.1 ppg) and Bobby Gardner (10.9 ppg), while forward Elijah Scranton leads the team on the boards with 5.6 rebounds per game.

West Liberty is one of three Mountain East Conference teams in the eight-team regional field.

Top-seeded Gannon will host the tournament, while No. 3 Fairmont State also earned a bid. Other teams in the regional include California (Pa.), Fayetteville State, Indiana (Pa.), Charleston, and Virginia Union.

The winner of Saturday's matchup between West Liberty and Virginia Union will advance to the Atlantic Regional semifinal on Sunday, facing the winner of No. 3 Fairmont State vs. No. 6 Indiana (Pa.).

The regional championship game is scheduled for Tuesday, March 17, with the winner advancing to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight.





West Liberty University blends a small-town environment with a comprehensive college experience, fostering students' aspirations through hands-on learning, personalized support, and unique academic programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Learn more at westliberty.edu.