FAIRMONT, W.Va. -- Sixth-ranked West Liberty held off second-ranked Fairmont State down the stretch to close out the 84-77 victory on Thursday night in front of 3,427 fans at Joe Retton Arena.
 
Fairmont State falls to 19-2 overall and 13-2 in the Mountain East Conference and had its winning-streak snapped at 13 games. WLU improves to 19-2 overall and 13-2 in the league.
 
With Fairmont State leading 28-27 at the 7:01 mark of the opening half, the Hilltoppers went on a 16-3 run over a five minute span to open up a 12-point lead with two minutes remaining in the half. During the stretch, Devin Hoehn knocked-down a trio of threes and Seger Bonifant added one.
 
Fairmont State scored six of the final eight points of the second half to go to the locker room trailing 45-37.
 
The Hilltoppers nailed six three-pointers in the opening half, including four during their 16-3 run to gain a double-digit advantage. Hoehn, Bonifant and Mike Lamberti each scored 11 points to lead the 'Toppers in the opening half. Jason Jolly led FSU with 11 points in the opening half.
 
West Liberty built its lead to as many as 13 at the 16:48 mark of the second half and still held a double-digit advantage at the 12:30 mark of the second half before six-straight points from FSU, capped by a three from Jolly, cut the Hilltopper lead to just five, 65-60.
 
The Hilltoppers would respond though, getting layups from David Dennis and Bonifant on back-to-back possessions to push their lead back to nine at the 9:16 mark.
 
The margin remained in single-digits the rest of the evening with FSU getting within four on four occasions.
 
After Matt Bingaya cut the lead to four for the final time at the 2:03 mark, the Falcons made two defensive stops but a pair of three-point attempts rimmed out and the Falcons were forced to foul. Bonifant made a pair of free throws and Lamberti went one-of-two from the line to score the final three points of the game, making the final score, 84-77.
 
Fairmont State shot just 41.4 percent from the field and struggled from the free throw line, making just 9-of-21 (42.9%). The Falcons held a 10-7 advantage in threes.
 
Bingaya led the Falcons with 20 points and 11 rebounds to go over 1,000 career points in his college basketball career, including Southern Miss and Fairmont State. Bingaya, however, made just 6-of-15 from the free throw line. Jolly also added 18 points off the bench and Thomas Wimbush finished with 14.
 
WLU shot 45 percent from the field (29-of-64) and got a team-high 27 points and 10 boards from Bonifant. The Hilltoppers also got 17 points apiece from Hoehn and Lamberti and David Dennis added 12. The 'Toppers held a 47-44 rebounding advantage and outscored FSU in the paint, 40-34.
 
FSU will now prepare for a top-five matchup with No. 4 Wheeling Jesuit on Saturday afternoon in Wheeling. Tip is set for 4 p.m.