WEST LIBERTY , W. Va. — Alex Falk scored 25 points and Division II No. 3-ranked West Liberty avenged its only conference loss by routing the University of Charleston 95-77.
Falk also grabbed six rebounds and handed out four assists in 38 turnover-free minutes Monday night. Chris Morrow added 19 points and 11 rebounds and three players chipped in 10 point each as the Hilltoppers (23-1, 17-1) won their ninth consecutive West Virginia Conference game since being upset at Charleston 101-96 on Jan. 17.
In the rematch, the Golden Eagles (15-7, 11-7) couldn’t match the Hilltoppers’ racehorse pace despite 26 points from Quincy Washington and 20 from Terrell Lipkins.
“I don’t know how much revenge really played into it,” said West Liberty coach Jim Crutchfield. “Our guys have a lot of pride and they heard the chants of ‘overrated’ when we lost down there, but you expect that when you’re on the road. I know that our guys went out there tonight and played as hard as they could, but we like to think we do that every night.”
Eight players contributed to West Liberty’s 16-of-36 shooting from 3-point range, whereas UC made 7-of-18 from long distance. The Hilltoppers, who enjoyed a 27-6 edge in second-chance points, extended their WVIAC home winning streak to 52 games
Leading 45-43 at halftime, West Liberty opened the second half on a 10-2 run. Charleston eventually climbed back to within five points at 70-65 on Washington’s free throw after a technical on Morrow. But West Liberty pulled away again with a 9-2 surge, including three free throws by Seger Bonifant, a 3-pointer by Faulk and another 3 by Bonifant.
Tim Hausfield, CJ Hester and Shawn Dyer scored 10 each for the Hilltoppers, who shot 44 percent, and Cedric Harris had a game-high six assists.
0
Comments