By Cody Shook, Sports Editor
After falling in the first game of the season to an out of conference opponent, the Hilltoppers have quickly gotten back to their winning ways. With a 5-1 record, the men’s team will be traveling to South Euclid, Ohio to tip-off against the Notre Dame College Falcons at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 2.
Originally scheduled for Saturday, the game was moved to Sunday to avoid conflicts with the NCAA Division II national quarterfinal football game also taking place on Notre Dame’s campus.
Coming into this week, West Liberty had only played two conference games, one against West Virginia Wesleyan and Glenville State College. Head Coach Ben Howlett’s team rolled over both of them to start Mountain East Conference (MEC) play with a 2-0 record.
Breaking numerous school records in the process, the Hilltoppers scored 158 points in the victory over Glenville State, and with this large victory, any questions about this year’s team were answered.
The Hilltoppers then had a midweek game at home on Wednesday, Nov. 28, against MEC opponent Urbana University. The Hilltoppers won 97-73, furthering MEC play to a 3-0 record.
The Falcons of Notre Dame College have started their season 6-1 with an identical 3-0 record in MEC games. In the six games that the Falcons have played in so far this season, they have yet to surpass the 100 point total. The Falcons defense has been tough for opponents so far this season, as the most points they have allowed in one game was 86 against UVa-Wise.
WLU currently has three players averaging over ten points per game, with sophomore guard Dalton Bolon averaging 22.2 points per game with 5.7 rebounds as well. Senior forward Eric Meininger is second on the team in scoring with 14.5 points per game and he leads the team in rebounding, bringing in 7.2 per game.
By the end of the season, these numbers will most likely go up, because when players get into mid-season form, they will be playing teams for the second time around.
This weekend’s game will start at 4 p.m. in South Euclid, Ohio against the Notre Dame Falcons. This early season MEC test could go a long way for this year’s Hilltoppers.
Photo Credit: Hilltoppersports.com
