West Liberty, W.Va. –  The Hilltoppers of West Liberty University shutdown the Pioneers in a 129-89 loss to slide GSC to 8-6, 5-3 MEC where WLU improves to 11-3, 6-2 MEC.
 
Steven Verpplancken had a great showing, scoring 20 total points shooting 5-for-10 in the field and 50% from deep and 8-for-8 from the stripe.
 
How It Happened
 
First Half:
 
Phil Bledsoe started the contest early with a shot from downtown followed by a jumper from Steven Verplancken to lead 5-0.
 
WLU would answer back on a short 8-4 run to put the Hilltoppers ahead 9-10, the first West Liberty lead of the contest.
 
Buckets from behind the arc from Bledsoe and Tyvon Taylor would be responded with two, threes from the WLU bench to maintain their 22-15 lead.
 
Down the stretch, the Hilltoppers went on a 14-4 run make separation from the Pioneers as they trailed 36-19. Hegel Augustin would add a pair from the strip but responded with a three ball by WLU.
 
Both teams would trade baskets, WLU maintaining their 20-point lead and responded by a triple by Najee Scott. The Hilltoppers continued to play the three ball game scoring three back to back to push their advantage 78-40.
 
To end the half, West Liberty sent the Pioneers to the locker room trailing 83-51.
 
The Pioneers shot 53% from the floor and 7-for-17 from deep as the Hilltoppers shot 30-for-46 from the field and 60% from deep in the half.
 
Second Half:
 
Bledsoe started the scoring for the Pioneers in the second half with a basket from behind the arc but the Hilltoppers maintained their first half momentum with a 12-2 run leading 96-56.
 
Seth Fallon would go 3-for-3 from deep in the second half, Steven Verplancken would add a pair of freebies with a triple to trail the Hilltoppers 118-85.
 
With two minutes remaining, the Hilltoppers would go on an 8-3 run to close out the contest 129-89.
 
Inside The Box Score
The Pioneers shot 45% from the floor with 14-for-36 from deep with just six points off turnovers and three blocks.
 
GSC was lead by Phil Bledose scoring 23 points and teammate following Najee Scott with 11 points.
 
Noah Frampton connected with several Pioneers claiming game high four assists.
 
West Liberty shot 55% from the floor and 50% from deep with 42 points off turnovers. The Hilltoppers was lead by Will Yoakum with game high 33 points.
 
Up Next
 
The Pioneers will return to action against the Senators of Davis & Elkins, January 15^th on the road. Tip-off is slated for 7:30pm.