ERIE, Pa. – West Liberty University men’s basketball season came to an end on Saturday inside the Highmark Events Center. The Hilltoppers, which won the MEC Regular season and Tournament title, fell to Virginia Union, 52-46, in the second game of the NCAA Atlantic Regional.
 
West Liberty finished the season with a 27-5 record.
 
In the first half, Virginia Union would start on off hot and build a 10-point lead, 18-10 with under 7:00 minutes to play until halftime. The Hilltoppers then ended the first on an 8-6 run as they trailed by just six, 24-18.
 
In the second half, the Hilltoppers started on a 9-4 run as they pulled within one, 28-27, with 16:32 to play. However, Virginia Union would respond as they went on a 9-0 run and built a 10-point lead with under 14:00 to play.
 
The Hilltoppers would not give up and cut it to just three points at 47-44 with under 3:00 to play however that as close as West Liberty would get as Virginia Union ended the contest on a 5-2 run as the Hilltoppers fell, 52-46.
 
Myles Montgomery, the MEC Tournament MVP, led the Hilltoppers with 11 points while Jamie Muldowney chipped in with seven points and eight rebounds.
 
West Liberty shot just 27 percent from the floor and only 14 percent from deep while Virginia Union shot 38 percent from the floor. Virginia Union went 0-8 from deep in the contest.
 
West Liberty scored 18 points in the paint while Virginia Union finished with 36 paint points. Virginia Union’s bench outscored West Liberty’s, 31-13, in the contest.
 
Bobby Gardner finished with a game-high for Virginia Union with 23 points and four rebounds. Noah Richardson-Keyes chipped in with 11 points and eight rebounds.