The No. 2-seeded West Liberty University men's basketball team saw its postseason run come to an end Saturday afternoon, falling to No. 7 seed Virginia Union, 52-46, in the opening round of the NCAA Atlantic Regional Tournament at the Highmark Events Center on the campus of Gannon University.
The Hilltoppers (27-5) battled back from a six-point halftime deficit and briefly tied the game in the second half, but Virginia Union (25-5) used its physical presence in the paint and defensive pressure to hold off the late push. The Panthers also handed West Liberty a loss earlier in the regular season, making Saturday's result the second victory over the Hilltoppers this year.
The 46 points marked West Liberty's lowest scoring output of the season and well below its 98.8 points-per-game average, which ranked second nationally in NCAA Division II. It was also the program's lowest point total in more than three decades, since scoring 44 points in a loss to Salem-Teikyo during the 1992-93 season.
"You have to give Virginia Union a lot of credit," head coach Mike Lamberti said. "They have the best defense in the country in terms of points per game given up, and that was on full display. Their zone and pressure caused us some fits. We turned it over too much and just couldn't see the ball go through the hoop."
West Liberty forced 17 turnovers and held a 45-40 advantage on the glass but was hindered by 19 turnovers of its own and struggled to find consistent offense.
The Hilltoppers struck first when Aiden Davis knocked down a three-pointer off an assist from Hayden Abdullah, giving West Liberty an early lead. Landon Butler added a layup in the opening minutes as the Toppers looked to establish momentum.
Virginia Union answered with strong play inside, attacking the rim while capitalizing on West Liberty turnovers. The Hilltoppers committed 12 turnovers in the first half, allowing the Panthers to build a lead. A late three-pointer by Myles Montgomery, assisted by Cameron Williams, provided a spark before the break, but West Liberty trailed 24-18 at halftime.
West Liberty responded early in the second half with a burst from beyond the arc. Back-to-back three-pointers from Williams and Davis quickly cut the deficit to three points as the Hilltoppers ramped up their defensive pressure. Abdullah added a block and defensive rebound during the stretch, while Davis later recorded a steal that led to a fast-break layup by Montgomery.
The Hilltoppers eventually tied the game once in the second half but could never fully swing the momentum. Virginia Union regained control down the stretch, and a late jumper from Bobby Gardner helped the Panthers maintain their lead. Butler converted a layup with 37 seconds remaining, but the Panthers held on for the 52-46 victory.
Montgomery led West Liberty with 11 points, going a perfect 4-for-4 at the free throw line. Butler added five points, seven rebounds, and two steals, while Abdullah finished with five points, five rebounds, and two blocks. Jamie Muldowney chipped in seven points and a team-high eight rebounds.
After the game, Lamberti praised his team's effort and season.
"I'm really proud of our guys," Lamberti said. "To win the regular-season championship and the conference tournament with 14 newcomers and only one returning player is incredible. There was a lot of change and a lot of doubt, but this group made West Liberty basketball one heck of a story this season."
Senior Dante Spadafora reflected on his career with the Hilltoppers.
"This place is my second home," Spadafora said. "I came in as an undersized guard and just worked every offseason to find ways to help the team and earn minutes. The fans, the students, the community—it's all I've ever known. I wouldn't trade these five years for anything."
Despite the difficult ending, Muldowney said the loss will fuel the program moving forward.
"This one will burn for a long time," Muldowney said. "We worked so hard all year, and when a game like this happens it hurts. But this group is like a family. We'll learn from it, and we'll come back next year ready to defend our MEC title and make sure something like this doesn't happen again."
Despite the defeat, the Hilltoppers capped an outstanding season under first-year head coach Mike Lamberti with 27 wins, Mountain East Conference regular-season and tournament championships, and the program's 17th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
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.
