Storylines – vs. West Liberty University
Starting the 2017-18 season undefeated, West Liberty suffered its first loss of the year against Fairmont State University on the road Sunday night, 98-97. The Hilltoppers now sit at 18-1 overall and 13-1 in the Mountain East Conference. Ben Howlett's team is led in scoring by Dan Monteroso who is averaging 19.5 points per game and shooting 52 percent from the floor. Monteroso also leads West Liberty in assists and steals, recording 3.2 assists and 2.2 steals per contest. The Hilltoppers' Dalton Bolon leads the team in rebounding, averaging 5.6 boards per game. This season, West Liberty has outscored opponents by a +25.6 scoring margin, averaging 110.2 points per game as a team. The Hilltoppers are shooting 49.6 percent from the field (746-for-1503) and just under 40 percent from beyond the arc. Howlett's squad is averaging 43.4 rebounds and 21.4 assists per game, committing just 10 turnovers per contest. The Hilltoppers will have two more games at home before getting back on the road as they take on Concord on Saturday and West Virginia State on Thursday.
About UVa-Wise
UVa-Wise heads to West Liberty on a two-game win streak, defeating West Virginia Wesleyan on the road and Glenville State in a thrilling overtime win at home. Down 25 points to the Pioneers to start the second half, the Cavaliers persevered to complete the largest comeback in David J. Prior Convocation Center history by UVa-Wise. The win was highlighted by redshirt senior Taiwo Badmus recording his 1,000th career point during the second half of the game. Badmus finished with 27 points and nine rebounds. To conclude a week of impressive performances by the London, England native, Badmus was named as the Mountain East Conference Player of the Week the league office announced Monday afternoon. The 6-foot-7 forward shot 52 percent from the field, averaging 29.5 points and nine rebounds in the Cavaliers 2-0 week. Sophomore point guard Michal Seals posted a career-high 38 points in the win against Glenville alongside seven rebounds and six assists. The Cavaliers are led in scoring and rebounding by Badmus who is averaging 20.6 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. Seals continues to be the assists and steals leader for UVa-Wise, recording 7.1 assists and 2.0 steals per contest. The Cavs will stay on the road to face Wheeling Jesuit on Saturday before returning home for a four-game home stand.
