WEST LIBERTY, W.Va.  – Charleston's season came to a tough ending on Sunday evening in West Liberty as the Golden Eagles fell in the NCAA Atlantic Region semifinal to the host Hilltoppers, 82-63, as the Academic, Sports and Recreation Complex on the campus of West Liberty University.

JUST THE BASICS 
Location: West Liberty, W.Va. – Academic, Sports, and Recreation Complex
Score: West Liberty 82, Charleston 63
Records: Golden Eagles: (14-4), Hilltoppers: (17-4) 

HOW IT HAPPENED 
University of Charleston jumped out to an early lead at the first media break of the evening, holding a narrow one-point edge, 7-6, over the host Hilltoppers fueled by solid inside play from UC's Lamont McManus.  West Liberty came out the timeout with a hot shooting touch, building an eight-point lead, 21-13, behind three-pointers from Luke Dyer, Pat Robinson and Owen Hazelbaker at the midway point of the first half.

Charleston's Isaiah Gable cut the Hilltopper lead to seven, 25-18, with just over six minutes left in the half with his first triple of the evening.  The Topper pressure got to the Golden Eagles at points during the first 20 minutes, forcing nine UC turnovers coupled with efficient perimeter shooting, 6-for-13, from West Liberty resulting in 15-7 run to close out the half and a 17-point lead for WLU, 45-28.  Pat Robinson led all scorers with 14 points at the break with UC's Lamont McManus scoring 13 point on 6-for-7 shooting for the Golden Eagle big man.

West Liberty grew the lead to 20, 56-36, at the under-16 timeout of the second half by attacking the glass and getting second chance points with four offensive rebounds in the first four minutes of action of the half.  The Golden Eagles and Toppers traded baskets over the next four minutes of play with West Liberty holding onto their 20-plus point lead, 66-44, with 11:54 remaining.  

Lamont McManus was doing everything he could to keep his Golden Eagles in the contest, totaling 21 points on 9-for-11 shooting at the 8-minute mark but Charleston still trailed by 20, 72-52.

University of Charleston couldn't battle their way back into it as the Toppers controlled the game from the opening tip, ending the season for the Golden Eagles with a 82-63 loss to finish the season with a record of 14-4.

UC Leaders 
Lamont McManus – 22 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists
Keith Williams – 11 points
Eddie Colbert – 9 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist

West Liberty Leaders  
Pat Robinson – 32 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists
Dalton Bolon – 16 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists
Owen Hazelbaker – 11 points, 3-for-3 from three