CHARLESTON, WV – The University of Charleston men's basketball team (13-11, 9-9) fell to the West Liberty Hilltoppers (21-1, 16-1 MEC) in Saturday MEC action.

Just the Basics
SCORE: West Liberty 87, Charleston 65
TEAM RECORDS Charleston (13-11, 9-9 MEC), Hilltoppers (18-5, 16-1 MEC)

How it Happened
The Golden Eagles hung with the Hilltoppers for the first six minutes of the half, only trailing by five points with 14:49 to play. The Golden Eagles tallied five turnovers in the opening minutes after suffering West Liberty's press. At the midpoint of the half the Golden Eagles trailed by six. Shaq Speights sunk a pair of shots from the charity stripe to cut the Hilltopper lead to four points. The Hilltoppers began to pull away, holding an eight-point lead until Anton Ivey slammed one home to bring the Golden Eagles within six points. West Liberty maintained their lead with a score of 34-28 with four minutes to play in the half. Charleston climbed their way back into the game to hold a score of 38-39 before going into the half.
 
Coming out of the break the Hilltoppers went on a 10-4 to lead 50-41 with thirteen minutes to play.  Charleston fell behind with 12 minutes to play as the Hilltoppers took the 54-42 lead their largest of the game. With just over nine minutes to play the Hilltoppers held an eight-point lead over Charleston (57-49). The Golden Eagles struggled to score in the paint the later minutes of the half allowing WLU to gain a 13-point lead with seven minutes to go. The Golden Eagles defense couldn't contain the Hilltoppers who with just over 3:37 to go in the game were down 56-80.
 
West Liberty held on to their 20-point advantage to end the game with the 87-65 victory over the Golden Eagles.
 

 
UC Game Leaders
Points – Shaq Speights (16), Ke'Andrew Gibson (10)
Rebounds – Lamont McManus, Shaq Speights (8)
Assists – Seth O'Neal (4)
Blocks – Ivy, Anderson, O'Neal, Smtih (1)

Up Next
-The Golden Eagles will travel to Fairmont, WV on Thursday to face the Falcons at 7:30 p.m.