WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. -- Fairmont State dropped its rematch with No. 8 West Liberty, 94-78, on Saturday afternoon at West Liberty's ASRC after defeating the then-No. 1 Hilltoppers at home back on January 17.

The Hilltoppers (22-2, 17-2 MEC) opened up a 10-point halftime advantage after closing the final 5:30 of the first half on a 10-3 run and went to the locker room with a 48-38 advantage. Both teams shot 50 percent from the floor in the opening half and WLU held a 20-14 margin on the glass. Brady Arnold came off the bench to scored eight points in just five minutes of action for the Hilltoppers during the half. Nick Harney led all scorers in the opening half with 10 points.

Fairmont State (17-8, 14-5 MEC) cut West Liberty's 10-point lead to just four points at the 16:12 mark of the second half after starting the half on a 10-4 run. Harney scored six of the 10 points for the Falcons during that stretch.

After a Fairmont State timeout, West Liberty pushed its lead to 11 points (59-48) in just over three minutes by going on a 7-0 run of its own. FSU fought back one more time, using a 10-1 run, to make the margin, 60-58, following a three by Chase Morgan at the 10:38 mark.

However, West Liberty closed out the victory with a game-clinching 15-2 run and led 75-60 with 6:25 to play. The Hilltoppers held a double-digit lead the rest of the way before wrapping up the 94-78 victory.

Nick Harney led the Falcons with 26 points after going 9-of-12 from the field and 7-of-9 from the free throw line. Chase Morgan came off the bench to add 13 points and Jamel Morris chipped in 11 for Fairmont State. Thomas Wimbush led the Falcons on the glass with nine rebounds to go along with eight points as he battled foul trouble in the game.

Seger Bonifant scored 14 of his team-high 21 points in the second half to lead the Hilltoppers in the victory. C.J. Hester (15) and Joe Lococo (13) were the only other West Liberty players to reach double-figures on the afternoon. Indiana Faithful led the 'Toppers on the glass with seven rebounds and also poured in nine points.

West Liberty shot just under 51 percent from the floor compared to 48 percent for the Falcons and the Hilltoppers also had a 39-30 advantage in rebounding.

Fairmont State will look to get back in the win column on Thursday evening when Concord comes to town for a 7:30 p.m. tip. The Mountain Lions won the first meeting of the season, 94-91, in Athens last month.