BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – West Virginia Wesleyan Men's Basketball will host the 22^nd ranked West Liberty on Saturday at 4 p.m. The Hilltoppers defeated the Bobcats earlier in the season 121-54. Wesleyan last defeated WLU in the 2019-20 season.

WEST LIBERTY HILLTOPPERS
The Hilltoppers enter (16-3) overall and (11-2) in MEC play. West Liberty is in a tie for 1^st in the MEC with Charleston. WLU is coming off a 104-69 win at home versus Davis & Elkins on Wednesday, their ninth game scoring 100 or more points this season.

West Liberty currently ranks 2^nd in the country and 1^st in the MEC in Scoring Offense at 99.5 PPG. The Hilltoppers also lead the conference in Scoring Margin (16.9), 3-Point FGs Made (12.8), Turnover Margin (7.21), Assist/Turnover Margin (1.86), Steals (10.6 SPG) and Assists (22.9). Defense has been the weak spot for the high-powered Hilltoppers, ranking 10^th in Scoring Defense (82.6 PPG).

Reigning Atlantic Region and Conference Player of the Year Bryce Butler ranks 4^th in the country and 1^st in the MEC in scoring, averaging 23.1 PPG. Butler is a complete player for the Black and Gold, ranking 4^th in the conference in rebounding (7.7 RPG) and 9^th in assists (3.6 APG). Five other Hilltoppers average double-figures: Malik McKinney (12.4 PPG), Christian Montague (12.1 PPG), Steve Cannady (11.2 PPG), Ben Sarson (10.2 PPG) and Zach Rasile (10.1 PPG).

Head Coach Ben Howlett is in his sixth season as the leader of the storied Hilltopper program. Howlett holds a (144-24) overall record as the HC for West Liberty. In his time at WLU, Howlett has been awarded MEC Coach of the Year twice, five straight MEC regular season titles, five straight NCAA DII scoring titles, five NCAA Tournament berths, multiple Atlantic Region and MEC Player of the Year recipients and two All-Americans. Howlett previously spent five seasons as an assistant to Jim Crutchfield on the WLU staff and one season as an assistant at Ohio Valley University before he joined the Hilltopper staff.

WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN BOBCATS
The Bobcats enter (2-15) overall and (2-11) in MEC play. Wesleyan has dropped their last two, previously losing on the road to Wheeling 82-55 on Wednesday.

WVWC ranks 3^rd in the MEC in Steals, racking up 9.1 SPG. A -0.76 Turnover Margin for the Bobcats ranks them 7^th in the conference.

Darius Green still sits at 8^th in the MEC in scoring, averaging 17.4 PPG. Green also sits in the Top-15 and leads the Bobcats in rebounding, pulling down 6.4 RPG. Tyler Slone (11.9 PPG), Anthony Craven Jr. (10.7 PPG) and D'Vante Rivera (9.1 PPG) rounds out the Bobcat scoring.

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