Box Score Charleston, WV - The University of Charleston knock off #1 ranked West Liberty University, 101-96 behind a coming out party for
Robbie Dreher (Greenville, SC).
The game got off to a feverish pace much to the liking of the visiting Hilltoppers, forcing UC into early turnovers that resulted in a nine point lead, 20-11 with 14:50 left to go. Coach Downey called a timeout, brought his team together and regrouped. The squad responded with a 3-pointer by
Xavier Humphrey (Wake Forest, N.C.), but West Liberty answered with a three by Tim Hausfeld at the other end. The back and forth action continued, but UC could feel momentum swinging their way after a three by
Evan Faulkner (Sandyhook, Ky.) and a driving layup by
Terrell Lipkins (Canton, Ohio), making the score 26-21 with 11:41 to go in the first half.
The Golden Eagles continued to fight drawing within 2 after a hard drive by Dreher at the 8 minute mark. Charleston took the lead late in the half 36-35 after a 3-pointer by Australian sharpshooter
Hayden Annett (Portland, Australia). The pace of the game slowed down the last 4 minutes of the half as the referees began to blow their whistle more frequently. Charleston took advantage of the whistles and began driving to the basket hard, primarily by Dreher who got to the line 10 times in the first 20 minutes, hitting 6 of his attempts. The Golden Eagles took an 8 point lead into the locker room 51-43, led by Dreher's 12 first-half points.
UC was able to extend their lead to 13 points after a layup by Lipkins off a Hilltopper turnover making the score 62-49. West Liberty responded with a run of their own hitting on back-to-back triples to get the lead back down to single digits. UC took a 9 point lead heading into the first media break in the second half, 64-55. West Liberty was beating UC to the glass and getting extra looks but couldn't convert on those opportunities. Charleston started to look inside to
Aleksander Kesic (Belgrade, Serbia) and he responded with getting to the rim making easy layups, pushing the lead out to 11 with about 5 minutes remaining.
The Hilltoppers respond with a quick 5-0 burst, getting the game within two possesions with around two minutes remaining in regulation. Kesic was able to get fouled on a putback and knock down 2 free throws making the score 95-88 with 1:22 left to go. The Hilltoppers get a few good looks at the rim and drain the buckets, pulling within five points with about 1 minute to go. UC gets an empty possession and fouls West Liberty, going to the line to make it a one possesion game. The Hilltoppers can't convert either attempt and fouls Kesic on the rebound. Kesic steps to the line and hits both of the freebies, getting the lead back out to 7 with 30 seconds remaining.
The referees get back into action and call a phantom call on Lipkins on a 3-point attempt by West Liberty, where they knock down all three getting it back to 4 points 97-93 with 18 second remaining. Charleston hits a couple of free throws getting it back out to six points, but WLU hits another triple making it a one possession game with 12.6 to go, 99-96. West Liberty fouls
Evan Faulkner (Sandyhook, Ky.) on the inbound sending him to the line where he came into the game hitting 87.5% of his attempts. Faulkner, typically a clutch shooter from the stripe, missed both attempts and gives the Hilltoppers a chance to even up the game. West Liberty inbounds the ball following a timeout and UC uses the strategy of fouling, not allowing West Liberty to get off a 3 pointer. The Hilltoppers miss the front end of the one-and-one with the rebound falling down to Dreher who is immediately fouled. Dreher heads to line and calmly knocks both down, icing the game for the Golden Eagles securing the upset victory over the top team in the nation, 101-96.
The Golden Eagles were led by Dreher who finished with 21 points and 8 rebounds. UC also got solid games from Kesic (20 pts., 9 rebounds) and Lipkins (20 pts.)
UC will get a week off before returning to action on Monday, Jan. 21 at home against Seton Hill.
