Glenville, W.Va. – West Liberty iced the contest 111-80 in mid-week conference action to sway the Pioneers 13-10 on the year and 10-7 MEC.
 
Hegel Augustin totaled 22 points on the night and six rebounds shooting 5-for-5 at the stripe.
 
How It Happened
 
First Half:
 
West Liberty (19-4, 14-3 MEC) raced out 5-0 lead before Hegel Augustin cracked the scoreboard sinking a three ball.
 
WLU responded with on a short 6-0 run until Najee Scott found Steven Verplancken on the floor for another blue and white triple trailing 11-6. From there both teams would trade baskets at 12 a piece until the Hilltoppers gained a ten-point lead.
 
The Pioneers continued to chip away at the score with a three ball from Noah Frampton and layup from Ty Robinson to pull within single-digits at 26-35.
 
WLU added a layup but didn't fly with Seth Fallon as he would sink a shot from behind the arc to pull within eight with under six in the first.
 
GSC continues to stay in pace with WLU down the stretch ending the first with a three ball from Scott, freebie and layup from Verplancken as they trail 52-43.
 
The Pioneers shot 11-for-20 from the floor and 55% from behind the arc at half, still hopeful the Blue and White will make a comeback in the second. Though the Hilltoppers shot 22-for-36 from the field and just 4-for-12 from deep.
 
Second Half:
 
Noah Frampton opened with a layup to put the Pioneers on the board but WLU would find a 13-3 run to separate from the Pioneers at 65-48.
 
Tyvon Taylor would knot a three ball to slow their run along with a layup form Ty Robinson to cut their deficit to 14.
 
The Hilltoppers continued to expand their advantage as Pioneer Tyvon Taylor sinks two buckets from deep and layup from Seth Fallon to pace with WLU.
 
Separating from Pioneers, GSC looked to cut back at their shortage as Phil Bledsoe and Najee Scott sink jumpers along with Steven Verplancken's shot from downtown to pace the Pioneers 70-94.
 
Down the stretch, Augustin picked up two points at the stripe as Verplancken picked three from deep as the Hilltoppers iced the contest at 111-80.
 
Inside the Box Score
 
GSC finanlized the score shooting 40% from the floor and 18-for-37 from behind the arc tallying six blocks and 21 second chance points.
 
Steven Verplancken sunk 19 points in the night fall grabbing six rebounds.
 
Noah Frampton chipped in 11 points shooting 3-for-3 and connecting for four assists.
 
WLU outrebounded the Pioneers 43-32 shooting 55% from the field but just 46% from deep. The Hilltoppers were lead by Dalton Bolon scoring 28 points and eight rebounds.
 
Coming Up
 
The Blue and White will return to action February 15^th as they travel to Wheeling University, tip off is slated for 2pm.