WHEELING, W.Va. (Feb. 27) – The Wheeling University men's basketball team was handed a 107-88 loss by No. 20 West Liberty on Senior Day Saturday evening inside the McDonough Center.
 
The Cardinals conclude the regular-season at 5-11 overall. Wheeling will take on Alderson Broaddus on Monday, March 1 in an opening-round game at 7 p.m. in Phillipi. Meanwhile, the Hilltoppers improve to 13-3 on the season.
 
Senior guard Jarett Haines (Bronx, N.Y./New Rochelle) dropped a season-high 28 points in the loss. Senior guard Jordan Reid (Silver Spring, Md./Albert Einstein) registered his fourth double-double this week with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore forward John Korte (Watertown, Mass./Watertown) added 17 points, while junior guard Brent Price (Wheeling, W.Va./Central Catholic) chipped in 14.
 
The Cardinals led for the majority of the first 15 minutes of the contest. Wheeling was up by as many as 32-25 with 6:27 to play in the first half, but quick 17-5 spurt by the Hilltoppers pulled them out front 42-37 near the three-minute mark. Wheeling eventually faced a 50-43 deficit at halftime.
 
A Haines jump shot with 15:42 left in the game made the score 64-55. The Cardinals were unable to get any closer, as the Hilltoppers maintained a double-digit lead throughout the final 15 minutes to deal Wheeling the loss.
 
The fast-paced contest saw the Hilltoppers shoot 44 of 81 (54 percent), compared to the 31 of 64 (48 percent) posted by the Cardinals.

West Liberty's Dalton Bolon led the Hilltoppers with 24 points in the win.
 
Wheeling will open the MEC Tournament on Monday, March 1 in Phillipi, West Virginia against Alderson Broaddus. The Cardinals claimed a 99-98 overtime win at AB this past Wednesday night.