Box Score CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The University of Charleston Golden Eagles Men's Basketball team (6-2, 6-2 MEC) defeated the 9^th ranked Hilltoppers of West Liberty University by a score of 78-74 on Saturday evening at the Wehrle Innovation Center. The Golden Eagles overcame a 13-point deficit in the win and were led offensively by Eddie Colbert III (18 points), Lamont McManus (18 points) and Keith Williams (15 points).

JUST THE BASICS

SCORE: Charleston 78, West Liberty 74
LOCATION: Charleston, W. Va.
TEAM RECORDS: Charleston (6-2, 6-2 MEC), West Liberty (4-3, 4-3 MEC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

In what was to be a highly anticipated matchup with a handful of MEC standing implications, the Golden Eagles and Hilltoppers did not fail to impress, as fast offenses and an elevated presence on defense made the game a must-watch. The first four minutes of the first half saw the teams go back and forth, as at the 16:38 mark Coach Osborne performed the platoon swap with the game tied at seven.
 
As West Liberty continued to apply a full court press, Charleston gained opportunities to score with a number advantage, but found themselves trailing 11-9 at the first media break. Three-point shooting was the story through the first ten minutes for the Hilltoppers, as they recorded four before making their first two-point shot, and five in total.
 
Down 21-17, a technical foul assessed to Lamont McManus after a made bucket sparked a 9-0 run for the Hilltoppers to increase their lead to 13 with 8:50 remaining in the half. Quickly, the Golden Eagles got back to work, using a 7-0 run of their own behind strong play from the Sandusky, Ohio native, Keith Williams to cut the West Liberty lead to six. Once again, West Liberty answered back with five straight points to extend their lead to eleven once again.
 
Over the final two minutes of the first half, the Golden Eagles physicality on the boards allowed for the home team to use a 7-2 run to conclude the half and head into the locker room down 43-37. After the barrage of three-pointers from the Hilltoppers, the Golden Eagles surrendered just one more for the frame which forced West Liberty to the basket. For the half, the Golden Eagles shot 48.1% from the floor compared to 41.2% for the Hilltoppers. West Liberty held the clear advantage in rebounding, ousting Charleston 23-13 for the half.
 
Out the gate in the second half, Eddie Colbert knocked down his third deep ball of the game, part of a quick 5-0 run to begin the half which cut the Golden Eagle deficit to just one. Much like the first half, a technical foul from the Golden Eagles, this time from Osborne, allowed the Hilltoppers to control the game once again, eventually extending their lead to nine as part of an 8-0 run.
 
Out of the first media break of the half, great plays on the defensive end of the ball allowed for the Golden Eagles to spark their way back into the game, as they were able to tie the game up at 53 as part of a 9-2 run. Charleston took their first lead of the second half with 10:13 remaining in the game after Colbert knocked down his fourth three-pointer of the game.
 
In what was bound to be an exhilarating final ten minutes of play, the teams found themselves deadlocked once again at 58 with 8:27 remaining. With eight minutes remaining, Seth O'Neal put the team on his back and scored two clutch baskets and eight points in total over a three-minute span, part of a 21-6 run to give the Golden Eagles a ten-point lead with 5:35 remaining. Once again, over the course of the next 90 seconds, WLU cut the lead to just one as part of a 9-0 run.
 
Down the stretch, Riley Heatherington converted a clutch and-one scenario to put the Golden Eagles back up four with 53 seconds remaining. As the Hilltoppers were forced to foul, they made some clutch shots down the stretch, but it wasn't enough as Charleston won the game 78-74.


Charleston Leaders (27-59, 45.8 percent from the field)
Lamont McManus – 18 points, 7 rebounds
Eddie Colbert III - 18 points, 5 rebounds
Keith Williams- 15 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists

West Liberty Leaders (23-61, 37.7 percent from the field)
Dalton Bolon – 19 points, 7 rebounds
Pat Robinson – 17 points
 
Up Next:
The Golden Eagles will return to action on Wednesday as they hit the road to take on the Falcons of Fairmont State with tip scheduled for 7:30 p.m.