Storylines – vs. West Liberty University
Jumping into the No. 5 spot in the D2SIDA and NABC rankings, the Hilltoppers of West Liberty come to Wise with a 17-2 overall record and a 13-1 mark in the Mountain East Conference. Ben Howlett's team is coming off of a huge win over Fairmont State after the Falcons defeated the Hilltoppers earlier in the season. West Liberty's game against Fairmont was a NCAA Division II Showcase with the Hilltoppers topping the Fighting Falcons 96-85 this past weekend. The team's leading scorer in sophomore Dalton Bolon (21.6 ppg) was tabbed as this week's MEC player of the week for men's basketball for his performance during the Hilltoppers 84-76 win over Shepherd on the road and the team's victory against Fairmont State, averaging 27 points and 12 boards in the two wins. While shooting 51.9 percent from the floor, West Liberty's 104.1 points per game lead the nation in DII and their 43.4 percent shooting from three-point range ranks them second in the country. This season, three more Hilltoppers are averaging double figures in Will Yoakum (14.3 ppg), Eric Meininger (13.2 ppg), and Yahel Hill (12.5 ppg). Meininger remains the top rebounder for the team, posting 7.5 boards per game while Luke Dyer has emerged as the team's assist leader with 3.8 per game. West Liberty will follow Thursday's matchup on the road against Concord Saturday afternoon prior to taking on West Virginia State next Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
About UVa-Wise
UVa-Wise enters into Thursday night's game following an 81-48 win over Berea College on Kid's Day Tuesday afternoon. The David J. Prior Convocation Center welcomed over 2,500 kids from Wise County and the City of Norton to cheer the team onto a dominating victory as the Cavs improved to a 7-13 overall record while remaining at 4-10 in Mountain East Conference play. UVa-Wise jumps back into league play for their fourth game in eight days against a dogged West Liberty squad. Against then-ranked No. 8 West Liberty earlier this season, the Cavalier men remained competitive but were unable to outlast the Hilltoppers in a 108-93 road loss. Prior to Tuesday's win, the Cavs went 1-1 this past week with a home win over West Virginia Wesleyan last Saturday, 85-79, and a tough buzzer-beating loss to Glenville State on the road, 86-84. The Cavs newcomers this year continue to shine with redshirt freshman
Briggs Parris (16.1 ppg), junior
Eric Okenchi (12.7 ppg), and freshman
Cameron Whiteside (11.7 ppg) all averaging double figures so far this season. Parris' 3.85 three-point field goals per game rank him first in the league and fourth in the nation in Division II individual statistics. UVa-Wise will remain home for a matchup against Wheeling Jesuit Saturday afternoon before beginning a four-game road trek starting with Fairmont State next Thursday.
