Men's Basketball 3/1/2017 10:28:00 PM Chris Myers

No. 3 Seed Cardinals Set to Continue Momentum at MEC Tourney

MEC Tournament Central
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Following a pair of season-ending victories, the Cardinals aim to continue their momentum this weekend. The No. 3 seeded Wheeling Jesuit men's basketball team has its sights set on a long Mountain East Conference Tournament run starting Friday afternoon.

For the second year in a row, the Cardinals (22-6) begin their MEC Tournament title quest against the No. 6 Bobcats from West Virginia Wesleyan (13-15). The two opponents will be the second of four MEC Men's Basketball Quarterfinals with a 2:15 p.m. tip-off in the Charleston Civic Center.

In other Quarterfinal action, No. 2 West Liberty (25-3) faces the winner of No. 10 UVa-Wise (9-19)/No. 7 Glenville State (11-15) in the noon contest. For the second session, top-ranked and No. 1 Fairmont State (27-1) battles the winner of No. 8 Charleston (14-14)/No. 9 Urbana (12-16) at 6 p.m. The final Quarterfinal has No. 4 Shepherd (18-10) versus No. 5 Notre Dame College (16-12) in an 8:15 p.m. game.

In last year's Quarterfinals, WJU went out to a 37-19 lead at intermission and took away a 67-51 victory over West Virginia Wesleyan. The Cardinals top three players of Kyle Ritz (19 points & 6 rebounds), Haywood Highsmith (16 points & 13 rebounds) and Pat Moseh (11 points & 8 rebounds) led the way.

But unlike last year where the team went into the MEC Tournament off its first loss in 16 games, the Cardinals head into Friday's matchup winners of their last three and four of five. In fact, the first WJU win of the three games came on Saturday, Feb. 18, at West Virginia Wesleyan by an 85-67 final. The Cardinals followed the win with two home victories last week – 84-69 over Notre Dame College and the 101-98 three overtime marathon against West Liberty.

WJU Game Notes:

• 4-3 in the 3 previous MEC Tournaments
• 1-2 in previous 3 games played in Charleston Civic Center
• Cardinals enter weekend No. 6 in the NCAA DII Atlantic Regional Rankings
•WJU has won at least 21 games in each of the last 3 seasons and are 71-20 over that time
• Cardinals have 3 1,000-point scorers in their lineup with Ritz (1,353), Moseh (1,209) and Highsmith (1,175)
     -The 3 have also combined for 2,162 rebounds
• All-MEC members: Moseh 1^st Team & Highsmith 2^nd Team

WJU vs. WVWesleyan This Season:
Jan. 8 in Wheeling –– WJU 82, WVW 73
     -WJU led 45-29 at the half, before WVW came back in the second half (44-37) until the home team finished the game. Cardinals had 5 in double figures led by Moseh's 19 points. Clay Todd led the Bobcats with 18 points.

Feb. 18 in Buchannon –– WJU 85, WVW 67
     -WJU started strong for a 49-29 halftime lead and cruised for the win. WJU put 6 players in double digits with Highsmith having a team-high 17 points. Mo Berchie downed 30 points on his Senior Day for WVW.

Projected Starting Lineups
WJU
2 – Pat Moseh (G/F, 6-6, 220, Jr.) 16.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 84 assists
12 – Chase Lawson (G, 6-3, 175, Sr.) 7.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 46 3FG
22 – Jarin Hilson (G, 6-0, 175, Jr.) 9.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 83 assists
24 – Haywood Highsmith (F, 6-7, 220, Jr.) 14.7 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 76 assists, 33 blocks
25 – Kyle Ritz (F, 6-7, 225, Sr.) 12.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg

WVW
3 – Clay Todd (G, 6-2, 165, So.) 8.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg
10 – Mo Berchie (G, 6-1, 185, Sr.) 16.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 124 assists
11 – Kevin Kangni (G, 6-3, 185, So.) 13.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg
33 – Luke Layhew (F, 6-8, 205, Fr.) 12.1 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 25 blocks
44 – Fred Brondsted (F, 6-6, 200, So.) 9.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg

-GoCards-

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