WISE, Va. – UVa-Wise men's basketball returns to Wise and the comforts of the David J. Prior Center Saturday afternoon to take on top-ranked West Liberty at 4 p.m.
 
Storylines – vs. West Liberty
The Cavaliers will welcome the unanimous No. 1 ranked team in the nation according to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) NCAA Division II rankings Saturday. The Hilltoppers are also ranked No. 1 in the NCAA Division II Media Poll, sponsored by D2SIDA.
 
The game will be the Cavs fourth against a nationally-ranked opponent this season, having already faced No. 17 Lincoln Memorial University, No. 14 King University and No. 7 Fairmont State. Mountain East Conference leader West Liberty enters Saturday undefeated after already claiming eight league wins. The Hilltoppers defeated currently third-ranked Fairmont State 88-86 at home back on Dec. 5. Last year West Liberty advanced all the way to the NCAA Atlantic Regional Final before getting beat by Indiana University of Pennsylvania on a buzzer-beater.
 
UVa-Wise will be seeking its first win against West Liberty since becoming NCAA Division II and MEC members. The Cavs have scored 79 points or more in each of their four games against West Liberty during that time, however, the Hilltoppers have scored over 100 points in each of the meetings. Saturday's contest should be a high-scoring affair as the Hilltoppers have the best scoring offense in the nation, averaging 106.9 points per game. West Liberty's scoring margin of plus 29.6 points a contest also tops in the nation, while its 12.6 three-pointers made per game is third nationally.
 
The Hilltoppers are led by All-American and 2014-15 NCAA Division II National Player of the Year Seger Bonifant, who is leading the nation in scoring (27 ppg) and three-pointers made per game (4).
 
About UVa-Wise
UVa-Wise is coming off of a 100-83 loss at Notre Dame College this past Tuesday. Despite being down by only three at halftime (51-48), the Cavs were outscored 49-35 in the second half. Senior forward Matt Day and redshirt freshman guard Camryn Fort led the Cavs with 22 and 21 points, respectively, Day also had a team-high nine rebounds.
 
The Cavs are looking to pick up where they left off at home, defeating then 14th-ranked King University (100-87) their last game in Wise on Dec. 20.
 
Day continues his excellent play in his senior season, averaging 20.3 points per game and 10.9 rebounds per contest. The forward is third in the MEC and seventh nationally in rebounds per game, while second in the league and 20th in the nation in double-doubles this season (7).
 
Following tomorrow's game the Cavs will have a quick turnaround, facing 24th-ranked Wheeling Jesuit University Monday night at 7:30 p.m. inside the Prior Center.