Box Score
West Liberty, W.Va-- The #10 nationally ranked Hilltoppers of West Liberty closed the game on a 9-2 run to defeat Charleston, 89-78, at West Liberty on Wednesday evening. The win moves West Liberty to 4-1 in MEC play, while the MEC's only undefeated team in MEC play – Charleston - drops to 4-1 as well.
The Basics
Location: ASRC-- West Liberty, W.Va
Score: UC 79 WLU 89
Records: Charleston (7-2, 4-1 MEC) West Liberty (8-1, 4-1 MEC)
How it Happened
UC scored the first points of the contest on Keith Williams' three-point shot. UC maintained the lead in the opening minutes as they started the game with an 8-4 spurt. West Liberty quickly responded with a 15-2 run to take a 19-10 lead with 14 minutes to go. UC took their turn with a run as they responded with eight straight to cut the deficit to one at 19-18. The teams would battle back and forth over the next few minutes before another 7-0 spurt by UC gave the visitors a 30-26 lead with 8:12 to play in the first half. The two teams continued the back and forth slugfest to close out the half and UC took a 48-44 lead into intermission.
The first seven minutes of the second half saw the Golden Eagles maintain their lead, which was as high as five at 55-50 before West Liberty knotted things at 55-55. Back and forth they continued to go and UC trailed just 67-64 with 7:35 to play. The host Hilltoppers would then use a 7-0 spurt to push their lead to 10 points at 74-64. It was the first time in the contest that either team led by double digits. With West Liberty leading 80-70 with just under three minutes to play, UC scored eight straight to cut the margin to two points at 80-78 with 1:20 to play.
West Liberty's Bryce Butler would convert a three-pointer with 1:00 to play and UC would miss two free throws on the ensuing possession. After having to foul in the waning seconds, West Liberty would hold on to win by their largest margin of the game at 89-78.
Both teams made 29 field goals on the day and UC converted at a better clip as they made 50% of their attempts compared to 47.5% from West Liberty. UC would also outrebound West Liberty 39-33 in the contest. The difference in the game came in the turnovers by Charleston, where they committed 20 and the free throw line differential. West Liberty converted 21 of 32 free throw attempts whereas UC only attempted 21, making just 12.
Individually, the Golden Eagles had five players in double figures and were led by Lamont McManus' 14 points. Keith Williams and Eddie Colbert each contributed 11 points while Isaiah Gable and Riley Heatherington added 10 each.
UC, who is in the middle of final exam week, will finish up the semester and have eight days off before playing their final game before the Christmas break when they host Penn State – Greater Allegheny on Friday, December 17, 2021. Game time is set for 6:00pm.
