The West Liberty Men’s Basketball season started at the beginning of November, and the Hilltoppers managed to go 6-0 overall and 1-0 in conference play. This is the fourth consecutive season where the West Liberty Men’s Basketball team has started 6-0.
The season tipped off inside the Academic Sports and Recreation Complex (ASRC) on November 8 for the annual Atlantic Region Crossover. West Liberty would take on the West Chester Golden Rams in their home opener.
The Reigning Mountain East Conference Freshman of the Year, Kyler Augustino, had a game-high 25 points in the 114-91 win. Three other returners from the
2022-23 squad netted double-digit points. Dante Spadafora had 16 points, Lanyc Shuler had 15 points, and Finley Woodward had 14 points. Woodward also grabbed 10 rebounds, giving him his first double-double of the season.
The Atlantic Region Crossover continued the very next day, and West Liberty would battle Bluefield State. The Toppers survived an offensive shootout that saw a final score of 112-110.
With one second remaining in the game, Bluefield State’s Romeo Aquino shot a three-pointer that got blocked by JJ Harper. Harper ended the contest with 22 points and eight rebounds.
D’Augustino was the team’s scoring leader for the second game in a row and he etched 23. Woodward went for another double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Shuler shined again, slashing 16/7/6.
Early on against Shepherd on November 16, the black and gold struggled from beyond the arc, going just 1-15 in the first half. Despite the long distance struggles, West Liberty never surrendered a lead to Shepherd. The defense was a big reason as to why, forcing 17 turnovers.
In comparison, West Liberty only turned the ball over three times. Five players scored double digit points in this one: D’Augustino (19), Harper (18), Woodward (16), Dante Spadafora (11), and Kameron Tinsley (11.)
The Hilltoppers didn’t get much of a break between games as they would play Virginia Union two days later. For the first time this season, West Liberty would see a zone defense. The Panthers held the Hilltoppers to 32 first-half points and only trailed by four points at the break.
Woodward helped the Black and Gold offense break out in the second half. He would dish out seven total assists, which allowed his team to beat the zone and the Panthers. The final score was 84-71. Woodward and Harper each contributed 16 points, and D’Augustino finished with 15.
On November 23, West Liberty met Point Park for their first conference game of the season. Just like the game against Shepherd, West Liberty never trailed. The Toppers led 43-34 at halftime but jumped out to an 18-point lead early in the second half. However, the Pioneers rebounding allowed them to cut the deficit to eight by the end of the game.
Even with Point Park outscoring West Liberty by one in the second half, the Pioneers couldn’t complete the comeback. In the 88-80 win, Woodward scored 18. D’Augustino managed 17, Harper and Shuler added 15 each, and Spadafora rounded out the double-digit point efforts with 12.
West Liberty played its first road game of the 2024-25 campaign on November 26. They would visit the Salem Tigers. The first 15 minutes of the game was back and forth. West Liberty would go on a 21-8 run over the final five minutes of the first half and took a 50-38 lead into the locker room.
The Black and Gold didn’t waste any time in the second half, starting it out with a 14-3 run over the opening three minutes. The Toppers kept the high-powered offense going the rest of the way, and the defense came up with a few key stops in the latter parts of the game, allowing West Liberty to take home a 101-87 win.
For the fifth time already this season, the Hilltoppers had at least five players score double figures. Harper was the team leader against Salem with 19. Spadafora followed with 18, D’Augustino tallied 17, Tinsley contributed 16, and Woodward had 10.
Four consecutive conference games await the Hilltoppers. On December 4, they’ll take on West Virginia Wesleyan in Buckhannon, West Virginia. Davis and Elkins will make its way to the ASRC on December 7, and Charleston will follow on December 11. On December 14, West Liberty will travel to Institute, West Virginia to square off with West Virginia State.
