Postgame Press Conference
CHARLESTON, W. Va. – Being efficient shooting and sharing the ball throughout the game, Wheeling Jesuit stormed past West Virginia Wesleyan in the Mountain East Conference Men's Basketball Quarterfinals Friday afternoon, 90-63, in the Charleston Civic Center.
 
The Cardinals (23-6) shot just under 60-percent from the floor (37 of 62), nearly doubled the Bobcats (13-16) on the glass (33-19) and shared the ball to a tune of 24 assists in the winning effort. WJU broke open a six-point halftime lead to double figures with the first seven second-half points and 11-2 run in four minutes for the 50-35 lead. WJU never allowed West Virginia Wesleyan closer than 11 points the final 16 minutes.
 
"I am happy with how well we played together. We were very efficient with the ball, moving the ball and our guys just played basketball solid," said WJU head coach Danny Sancomb. "We rebounded the ball very well in the second half. Defensively, we have to play better, which is one area I felt could have been better."

Pat Moseh - All-MEC 1st Team

 
The Cardinals inside tandem of Haywood Highsmith and Kyle Ritz both powered 20-point and eight-rebound days. Highsmith netted 23 points on 10 of 14 shooting to go with four assists.  Ritz accounted for 21 tallies on 9 of 13 attempts, including three treys, and three assists.
 
Chase Lawson drained a season-high five 3-pointers in seven shots for 15 points. All-MEC First Teamer Pat Moseh managed only six points, but dished out seven assists and swiped two passes.
 
Dominique Tham added eight points and four boards off the bench.
 
Mo Berchie recorded his third big game for the Bobcats against the Cardinals with 28 points and five assists.
 
Leading 20-19 at 9:40 in the first half, WJU started to get its separation. Drake Goddard and Preston Boswell fired on back-to-back 3-pointers and Ritz added a layup in an 8-2 spurt for a 28-21 lead.
 
The tone setter, though, was the immediate 7-0 second-half opening. From the post, Highsmith found Jarin Hilson at the top of the key for a triple. Exactly a minute later, Lawson found Highsmith on the inside for a dunk. The Cardinals burst continued after a Bobcat timeout. Lawson saved the ball in the corner and passed to Highsmith, who found a cutting Moseh to the basket for a one-handed dunk.
 
WJU build the lead to 19 points, 67-48, when Lawson downed his fifth trey at 10:44.
 
The victory sets up the Ohio Valley Rivalry III in MEC Tournament style against West Liberty. The Hilltoppers edged Glenville State in the final seconds, 75-71, in the first MEC Quarterfinal.
 
"We have to be ready to fight. It will be a physical game and we need to execute better than we have the first two times we played. We have to control the glass and make free throws," stated Sancomb.
 
WJU and West Liberty split the regular season match. The 'Toppers won on their home court, 96-90 in double overtime, before the Cardinals won the three overtime marathon, 101-98, last Saturday (Feb. 25).
 
The MEC Semifinal matchup will tip off at 8:15 p.m. Saturday night (Mar. 4).