WEST LIBERTY, WV – (1) West Liberty Hilltoppers had no problem disposing of Bowie State today in the 1st round of the NCAA Division 2 Men’s Basketball Championship.
The first half started slow, with fouls everywhere on each time, but once West Liberty got into their rhythm, there were no denying them buckets. Fastbreaks, layups, and three’s where the weapons of choice today for the number one team in the country.
With the game close, Dameatric Scott dunked one home to give Bowie State a 16-14 lead but West Liberty countered with a 15-9 run and never looked back.
At the half, the Hilltoppers led 66-41. Led by Chris Morrow and Alex Falk, West Liberty played the way they’ve been playing all season: fast. They created 14 turnovers in the first half and capitalized by quick layups and three’s. They shot a blistering 70 percent from three point range and 65.6 percent from the floor overall in the first half.
“When you shoot the ball that well, it solves any problems that might occur, and we didn’t have many problems,” West Liberty coach Jim Crutchfield said after the game.
West Liberty started the second half the same way they finished the first. They started on a 12-5 run to push their lead to 78-46. CJ Hester had 7 of the team’s first 12 points of the half and at the 13:20 mark of the second half, West Liberty were up by 30 points and shooting over 75 percent from the field.
Hester said that the team continues to “stress outworking the other team.” It showed from the start of the second half on, especially for Hester.
The rest of the game was smooth sailing for the number 1 seed in the Atlantic Region, as they broke the 100 point mark just before the five minute mark in the second half.
“I thought we played 40 good minutes today,” Crutchfield said about his team’s overall success.
Falk, played 32 minutes then headed to the bench, finished with 20 points on 6-10 shooting. Shawn Dyer added 20 points and 7 rebounds of his own and Morrow finished with 19 points on 6-7 shooting.
They’ll take on the winner of the FSU/ LC game in the 2nd round at 7:30 at West Liberty.
