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18 mbb pat at wlu
84
Winner Wheeling Jesuit WJU 23-5,18-4
74
West Liberty WLU 25-2,20-2
Winner
Wheeling Jesuit WJU
23-5,18-4
84
Final
74
West Liberty WLU
25-2,20-2
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Wheeling Jesuit WJU 40 44 84
West Liberty WLU 35 39 74

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Chris Myers

Cardinals Control Game, Win Up the Hill over No. 5 Hilltoppers

WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – It was a bit of déjà vu from three years ago. Wheeling Jesuit controlled the game throughout and prevailed "Up the Hill" over rival No. 5 West Liberty, 84-74, in men's basketball Saturday afternoon.
 
For the the second time in four years, WJU (23-5/18-4 Mountain East Conference) claimed victory at West Liberty (25-2/20-2 MEC), while the home team held the No. 5 ranking in the NCAA Division II ranks. The Cardinals also snapped a 47-game home win streak by the Hilltoppers.
 
A Haywood Highsmith 3-pointer from the wing only 1:34 into the game put the Cardinals ahead, 5-2. The visitors never gave up the advantage. After taking a five-point halftime lead, WJU increased its margin over West Liberty to as many as 12 points, 61-49, on a Preston Boswell triple. A pair of James Griffin free throws with 50 seconds did pull the Hilltoppers back to within four points, 78-74, but back-to-back Cardinals defensive stops and Highsmith key rebounds sealed the victory.
 
"It's a big win for us and I think snapped their 47-game home win streak. We knew they would be a challenge and there was a lot at stake both in the Conference and (Atlantic) Region," said WJU head coach Danny Sancomb. "We were hungry. It was a competitive game and our defense was our catalyst. When you hold them to 74 points, you have a chance to win. Our offensive execution the last 10 minutes was really good.
 
The WJU coach continued, "Haywood did what he does and Pat (Moseh) was also key for us. Our senior class with how good it is, Drake Goddard is one of the biggest winners I have ever coached as he controlled the game and took two charges, which most people don't realize. Our backcourt of Drake and Preston has not received enough credit."
 
Highsmith totaled 13 rebounds with the final two in the last 50 seconds as big. He added a team-high 23 points on 9 of 14 shooting, including two steals and two assists.
 
Moseh sliced his way to a 23-point afternoon with 11 assists for a double-double of his own. Boswell was the third double-figure WJU scorer with 19 points on 8 of 13 shooting to go with three rebounds, three assists and three blocks.
 
Jeremiah Wilson had nine points and 11 boards, while Goddard downed a pair of treys for seen points.
 
West Liberty received 26 points and nine rebounds from Dan Monteroso.
 
WJU moves on to the MEC Tournament next week in Charleston where it will be the No. 2 seed and will face the winner of the No. 10 Glenville State vs. No. 7 UVa.-Wise game on Friday afternoon, Mar. 2, in a noon tip. 



 
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