(Story by Taylor Kennedy)
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The West Liberty Hilltoppers’ physicality and tenaciousness have pushed them through tough battles throughout the 2022-23 season.
That identity did not change in West Liberty’s national semifinal game against No. 3 Black Hills State.
The Hilltoppers’ relentless defense stepped up in the first 20 minutes, boosting them to an 87-82 victory over the Yellow Jackets.
The victory sends West Liberty to its second NCAA Division II national title game in program history and its first since 2014.
“We screwed up in the second half,” said Howlett on the CityNet Statewide Sportsline Thursday evening. “We got a good start and played hard in the first half. We then started to do some uncharacteristic things in the second half then Bryce Butler got hit in the nose late in the half. We had some young guys that maybe the moment was too big for them, but we won.”
The Hilltoppers (33-3) will play a familiar face on Saturday as Jim Crutchfield, the current head coach at Nova Southeastern, will face his former team and protégé Ben Howlett on Saturday at 3 p.m. EST on CBS.
West Liberty and Nova Southeastern are the top two scoring offenses in the nation. The Sharks lead the country, averaging 105 points per game. WLU will also go toe-to-toe against former Hilltopper Will Yoakum.
.@WLU_Hoops is moving on to the NCAA Division II National Championship game! The Hilltoppers held off Black Hills State, 87-82, earlier today. Ben Howlett, WLU HC, discusses the victory with @TonyCaridi, @BradHowe07, and @HunterWvu88bgn. @WLathletics @TheMountainEast pic.twitter.com/RSJn7ol3ak
— MetroNews (@WVMetroNews) March 23, 2023
“I think it will be fun,” Howlett mentioned. “Both of us are ultra-competitive. As far as scouting, we are looking in the mirror. We run a lot of the same stuff. Our pressures are almost identical. We are playing for our schools. It is not about Coach Crutchfield or me. It is about West Liberty and Nova Southeastern.”
Butler got drilled in the nose by fellow Hilltopper Ben Sarson with less than six minutes remaining in the game. Butler went back and forth from the WLU locker room onto the floor to play, but the blood continued to drip. Fortunately, his nose is not broken, according to Howlett.
Butler and Malik McKinney each scored a team-high 16 points.
“Having him on the floor makes our team better, not only from an offensive standpoint but from a defensive and leadership standpoint,” Howlett noted. “He tried to go back out, but it kept leaking. We had to take him back out. We got the game stopped then he finished the game.”
The Hilltoppers stretched their lead out to 18 points four times in the second half, including a 65-47 lead with 12:46 remaining.
However, West Liberty did not shoot well from long distance in the second half, only shooting 25 percent after 42 percent in the first half.
“I thought we got too comfortable in the second half,” Howlett stated. “Leading into this game, I thought we were playing our best basketball. When you get this late in the season, everyone is good. Black Hills State has [Joel Scott], and he flexed his muscles in the second half. Luckily, the clock ran out, and we were winning by five.”
Yet, Black Hills State fought back, including a 6-0 run late in the game that reduced its deficit to six, 80-74. However, McKinney stepped up in the final 1:40 by scoring six of WLU’s final seven points.
The Hilltoppers’ bench outscored the Yellow Jackets 30-14, including a 14-point performance by Chaz Hinds.
Mercyhurst transfer Steve Cannady added 13 points for Howlett.
Black Hills State had four players finish in double-figures, including Scott leading all scorers with 30 points, one shy of tying his season high.