WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. -- Seventh-ranked West Liberty held off a second half Fairmont State rally to pick up a 106-100 victory over Fairmont State on Saturday evening inside the ASRC. The Falcons cut a 19-point second half lead to just six following five-straight Jason Jolly three-pointers at the 5:17 mark of the second half.
 
The win allows West Liberty to remain unbeaten at 9-0 overall (5-0 MEC). FSU falls to 6-3 overall, including 4-2 in league games.
 
Following Jolly's string of five-consecutive three-pointers late in the second half, West Liberty matched each of Fairmont State's baskets down the stretch to escape with a 106-100 victory.
 
Fairmont State couldn't recover from a 62-point opening half by the Hilltoppers, which included a 58.1 percent shooting percentage. Dan Monteroso netted 21 points in the opening half to pace the Hilltoppers.
 
Garrett Cook led the FSU offense in the opening half by draining five three-pointers and scoring a career-high 17 in the opening half of the game.
 
West Liberty did a majority of its damage on the inside and on the drive, making just eight three-pointers in the game.
 
For the game, WLU shot 51.3 percent from the field, despite just 31 percent from behind the arc. The Hilltoppers also held a 50-41 advantage on the glass, including 14 offensive rebounds.
 
Fairmont State also had a strong offensive performance, shooting 43 percent from the field and scoring 50 points in each half. FSU drained 12 three-pointers in the win – all from Jolly and Cook with five each.
 
However, the Falcons struggled dramatically from the free throw line, going just 22-of-37 from the stripe (59.5%).
 
FSU had six double-figure scorers in the setback, led by Jolly with 19 points, five rebounds and six assists. The Falcons also got 17 points apiece from Vonte Montgomery and Cook, and 14 points apiece from Cole VonHandorf and Kenzie Melko-Marshall. Andrew Emrick chipped in 10.
 
Monteroso finished the evening with a game-high 27 points to lead the Hilltoppers. WLU also got 18 points from Eric Meininger and 15 apiece from Dalton Bolon and Jordan Watson.
 
FSU will now be idle until next Saturday when California (PA) comes to town for a non-conference Atlantic Region showdown. Tip is set for 4 p.m.