BUCKHANNON — The West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcat basketball team hosted top-ranked West Liberty University and gave the Hilltoppers more than anticipated in an 81-66 loss in Buckhannon, Wednesday.
Wesleyan held tight to the Mountain East Conference’s best offense and No. 3-ranked team in NCAA Division II, holding the Hilltoppers well below its 96-point average by shutting down West Liberty’s three-point shooting threat. The Hilltoppers managed only 6-of-32 from outside the stripe for a meager 18.8 percent average. The Bobcats, in comparison, shot 8-of-17 three-pointers (47 percent average) as the team zeroed in on points-in-the-paint.
It was the Hilltoppers incessant full-court press that tipped the scales; the pressure pushed the Bobcats into committing 22 turnovers and this added 20 points to the Hilltoppers total. West Liberty turned the ball over just seven times.
The brutally physical game that saw several players down on the floor throughout the contest produced a low-scoring first half. The Bobcats were down just seven, 36-29, going into the locker room. In the second half, West Liberty pulled ahead by as much as 16 points before Wesleyan mounted a comeback and came within striking distance at 69-61 with 6:38 remaining, but a series of late Bobcat turnovers quashed the upset.
Leading all players in scoring was Wesleyan’s Alex Mirhosseini who dropped 22 points on 5-of-13 from the field, including 5-of-10 three-pointers and 7-of-9 from the foul line.
Alex Gray recorded his first double-double performance with 5-of-9 shooting for 14 points and 10 rebounds. Forward Stephen Ovia also recorded 10 rebounds and added eight points. Overall, Wesleyan outrebounded the Hilltoppers 38-25.
West Liberty’s JJ Harper had 21 points and four rebounds and Lanyc Shuler scored 13 points and had three rebounds.
Wesleyan travels to Wheeling University Saturday, Dec. 7 for a 4 p.m. tip with the Cardinals.
