WJU Men's Basketball Preview: Cardinals vs Hilltoppers

By: Michael McDonald, Assistant Sports Information Director

Men's Basketball | 1/17/2017 3:50:00 PM

WHEELING, W.Va. - Thursday night will mark one of the biggest nights on the Ohio Valley sports calendar. Wheeling Jesuit and West Liberty meet this Thursday for the first of two matches and this week's game is sure to sell out in record time. The first game will be a rematch of the 2016 Mountain East Conference championship with the night cap including two of the top six nationally ranked teams in the country on the men's side.

"You do not want to miss Thursday's action in the Academic, Sports and Recreation Complex (ASRC) on the campus of West Liberty. The women's contest tips at 5:30 with the men to follow," said Kevin Forde, WJU Director of Athletics.

Tickets can be purchased at the ASRC doors beginning one hour before tip of the women's game. Admission prices are eight dollars for an adult and two dollars for any student with a valid student ID.

The Wheeling Jesuit athletic department will be selling 50 student tickets beginning Wednesday, January 18. The tickets are on a first come, first serve basis and it is recommended that fans arrive to West Liberty early to guarantee a seat.

Game Live Stats
Game Live Video

Men's preview:
Thursday evening's men's basketball matchup will feature two of the nation's best teams on the same court here in the Ohio Valley. The Wheeling Jesuit versus West Liberty rivalry always seems to go down to the wire, no matter what the teams' records are, but this season, the contest should have a little extra fuel added to the fire. Both clubs enter the game with a win streak of eight or more while occupying a national ranking within the top-six places.

The sixth ranked Wheeling Jesuit men enter the contest on a 10-game win streak, with their lone loss of the season coming against No. 2 nationally-ranked Fairmont State by a score of 92-95 in overtime on November 30. Since the loss to the Falcons, the Cardinals have outscored their opponents 859-757, a margin of +10.2 points per game. During the 10-game streak, the Cardinals have knocked off seven different league opponents by a combined margin of 631-562 (9.9 ppg).

WJU's latest victory came Monday night in overtime, defeating the University of Virginia Wise Cavaliers. WJU's Jarin Hilson buried a trey from the middle of the court as time expired, sending the contest into overtime, where the Cardinals would beat the Cavs 14-7, clinching an 88-81 victory.

The Cardinals rank fourth in scoring offense with 87.6 points per outing and third in scoring defense, allowing just 75.9 points on average. WJU sits in third place in the MEC in scoring margin at +11.6 points per game. In rebounding, WJU ranks first with 42.1 per game while also leading the conference in rebounding margin, +7.5.

The junior duo of Pat Moseh and Haywood Highsmith pace the Cardinal offense with a combined 29-plus points scored per game. Moseh leads WJU with 15.3 points, ranking 17^th in the MEC, while rebounding 5.8 missed shots and dishing three assists, good for 15^th in the MEC. Highsmith's 10.8 rebounds per game ranks third in the MEC, going along with his 14.5 points, 21st best in the conference.

Senior Kylie Ritz pumps in 13.6 points per game, good for 23rd in the league, while also collecting 8.4 rebounds – seventh most within the MEC. Freshman Preston Boswell gives WJU 13.4 points off the bench, 24^th overall in the conference. Guards Jarin Hilson and Chase Lawson supply 8.6 and 8.3 points per game, respectively. Hilson adds 2.9 assists and Lawson 2.6.

West Liberty rides an eight-game win streak into the matchup with its lone loss also coming to the Fairmont State Falcons, 81-86, on December 4. The Hilltopper's last outing was a 125-73 home victory over Concord. The Hilltoppers rank first in scoring offense at 99.6 points per outing while ranking fifth in scoring defense, allowing 76.3 points per night. The 'Toppers also lead the MEC in scoring margin, +23.3 points.

Since the evolution of the MEC four years ago, Wheeling Jesuit and West Liberty have had thrilling games. In the past two seasons, the two squads have split the outings, two apiece.

In the 2015-16 season, Wheeling Jesuit routed West Liberty, 106-83, in Wheeling on January 21. On February 27, West Liberty limited the Cardinals to 72 points in an 84-72 series tying victory at home.

In the prior year, the Cardinals traveled to West Liberty on January 22 and defeated the top-ranked 'Toppers, 102-80. In the seasons second matchup, West Liberty converted a pair of late free throws, taking a 94-92 victory to once again even the season series at one apiece.

-GoCards-

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