FAIRMONT —
Fairmont State and West Liberty will tangle for the top spot men’s basketball spot in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with a showdown at the ASRC on the campus of West Liberty tonight.
The Hilltoppers come into the 7:30 p.m. matchup ranked No. 1 in the country in NCAA Division II.
Fairmont State enters Thursday’s game a winner of eight of its last nine, with the lone setback being a 77-75 loss at Division I Kent State. The Falcons rolled to a 88-60 win over West Virginia State in their last time out. The ’Toppers are coming into the game off their first loss of the season, a 101-96 setback against Charleston at Eddie King Gymnasium. West Liberty has not lost consecutive games since the 2008-09 season when it lost to Wheeling Jesuit (Feb. 2) and WV State (Feb. 7).
West Liberty has lost at home just twice since the 2007-08 season. The last WVIAC team to defeat the ’Toppers at home was Fairmont State back on Feb. 14, 2008.
Fairmont State leads the all-time series between the two schools, 82-53. However, WLU has dominated the series as of late, going 17-1 against FSU since Jim Crutchfield took over the program.
The women’s team from the two schools, which clash at 5:30 p.m., are two of the top three teams in the most recent WVIAC standings.
Fairmont State comes into the game winners of five straight and nine of its last 10, with the lone setback being a narrow road loss at Charleston. The Falcons dispatched West Virginia State State 66-50 on Monday night.
The ’Toppers are coming into Thursday’s game after a lopsided 78-59 victory at Charleston. West Liberty is 4-0 at home this year while Fairmont State is 4-2 on the road this year.
WLU and FSU have six common opponents so far this season. Both teams are 5-1 against those teams, with WLU’s loss coming to Seton Hill and FSU’s loss coming to Charleston.
West Liberty leads the all-time series between the two schools, 32-30. The two teams have split the regular-season meetings in five of the last six seasons. FSU was victorious in its last trip to West Liberty, defeating the ’Toppers 72-62 last season. Both games last season were decided by 10 points or fewer.
On the men’s side, West Liberty is ranked first in the country in scoring offense, scoring margin, field goal percentage, assists per game, assist/turnover ratio and turnover margin.
West Liberty has scored 90 points or more in all but one game this season and has topped 100 points 12 times. WLU pumped in a season-high 143 points against UPR Mayaguez.
Alex Falk leads four players in double figures scoring this season averaging 19.9 points per game. Cedric Harris adds 17.9 points per contest. CJ Hester scores 14.7 and Chris Morrow contributes 11.0. WLU makes nearly 11 three-pointers per game.
For the women, West Liberty’s Hillary Southworth is the leading scorer in the WVIAC averaging 21.4 points per game. She has three games of 30 points or more this season. Southworth is also second on the team in rebounding with 5.7 per game.
WLU is averaging seven made three-pointers per game.
Fairmont State Sports
FSU hopes to knock off No. 1 ranked Hilltoppers
- Fairmont State Sports
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FSU, MVB team up for successful tournament
The Falcons and MVB paired to complete th 21st annual MVB-Fairmont State Athletic Association Golf Tournament at the Bridgeport Country Club on Friday.
Fairmont State’s mission during the event was to sell out, so thar FSU could raise as much money as possible for the athletic department. -
Cobb named Atlantic Player of the Year
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Three Falcons earn All-WVIAC honors
Thee Fairmont State University baseball players earned All-West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors, the league announced Wednesday.
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FSU sweeps major WVIAC softball honors
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Caridi challenges FSU to ‘be brave’
Tony Caridi’s message Saturday evening to Fairmont State University’s student athletes, coaches, administration, alumni and friends was simple, yet very compelling, especially during this time of change in Falcon athletics.
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Falcons fall short in tourney championship
West Virginia State defeated Fairmont State, 3-1, in game two of the WVIAC Tournament Finals to clinch the WVIAC Tournament Championship. FSU picked up a 4-1 victory early in the day to force a second game.
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Falcons, State to clash for softball title
Fairmont State University and West Virginia State softball teams will clash today for the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament Championship.
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COLUMN: Davis, Monroe set to lead FSU
As early impressions go, Garrett Davis could not have made more of a favorable one in the eyes of Jason Woodman.
Woodman, Fairmont State’s first-year head football coach and a Marion County native, certainly knew about the senior middle linebacker before he even took the gig last December. -
Falcon ‘D’ shines in 40-18 win: PHOTOS
As spring games go, Fairmont State University’s annual Maroon-White contest Thursday evening at Duvall-Rosier Field ran pretty much to form.
Using a modified scoring system that awarded points to the defense for turnovers and stops, the Falcons’ Maroon (defensive unit) came up with three turnovers and a number of stops to roll to a 40-18 victory over the White (offensive unit) in front of more than 500 fans eager to get their first glimpse of the new-look Falcons. -
N.C. point guard signs with Falcons
Fairmont State might have its point guard of the future.
Second-year head coach Jerrod Calhoun announced his first signing for the 2013-14 season on Thursday, as the program welcomed North Carolina standout Caleb Davis into the Falcon family. - More Fairmont State Sports Headlines
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