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17 mbb mec semis
Sam Santilli
95
WJU WJU 23-7
105
Winner WLU WLU 27-3
WJU WJU
23-7
95
Final
105
WLU WLU
27-3
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
WJU WJU 38 57 95
WLU WLU 57 48 105

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Chris Myers

Cardinals Fight Until End, ‘Toppers Hang On for MEC Semis Win

Post Game Press Conference
CHARLESTON, W. Va. – The Cardinals hole they dug in the early part of the Mountain East Conference Tournament Semifinals proved to be too deep. Wheeling Jesuit fought hard to the end and pulled back to a three possession contest, but it fell 105-95 to rival West Liberty Saturday night.
 
Trailing 57-38 at the half, the Cardinals (23-7) kept the pressure on the entire second half and cut the difference to 12, 82-70, with 6:39 left. WJU continued its surge until the deficit dwindled to seven points, 100-93, with 36 seconds left, but ran out of time against West Liberty (27-3).
 
"We did not get off to a good start. You just couldn't get any stops (in the early game) and put ourselves in too deep of a hole to get out of it (completely)," said WJU head coach Danny Sancomb. "I figured we would have a chance to make it a game, but it is tough to get behind a team like them (West Liberty). We fought and scratched the whole way."
 
All-MEC First Teamer Pat Moseh paced the Cardinals with 24 points on 8 for 13 shots, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals.
 
Both Kyle Ritz and Dominique Tham added 15 points apiece, including nine and seven rebounds. Haywood Highsmith chipped in 13 points and seven boards. Chase Lawson had 11 points with three treys.
 
Devin Hoehn was the player of the game for the 'Toppers with 34 points on 12 of 17 shooting and a trio of 3-pointers. Dan Monteroso had 23 points.
 
The Hilltoppers rode their fast start where they shot over 70-percent for much of the first half to an early a 24-9 advantage in the first 7:49. The difference grew to as many as 23 points, 50-27, before the 19-point halftime difference, 57-38.

"We have to be ready to play from the get go when you play really good teams. We have to play for 40 minutes," pointed out Sancomb. "We hope to get another chance as whoever we play next week will be a really good team."
 
The Cardinals will await Sunday night's NCAA Division II National Championship field. WJU went into the weekend as the No. 6 team in the Atlantic Region and should remain in that same position when the pairings are announced. The top eight teams in each of the eight regions qualify for the DII playoffs, which will be announced at 10:30 p.m.

 
-GoCards-
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