FAIRMONT, W.Va. – Second-ranked Fairmont State wore down No. 16 Wheeling Jesuit in the closing minutes of Wednesday's top 25 showdown to claim a 97-86 victory, earning a season sweep over the Cardinals and improving to 21-0 on the season (15-0 MEC). The win is the fourth for FSU over a nationally ranked opponent this season.

Wednesday's game featured a season-high attendance of 2,523 inside Joe Retton Arena.
 
The win sets up a 2-vs-3 clash between Fairmont State and West Liberty on Saturday afternoon at the ASRC. The game is set to tip at 4 p.m. The third-ranked 'Toppers improved to 20-1 with a 21-point victory over Shepherd on Wednesday evening.
 
The first half of tonight's game featured six ties and six lead changes, before FSU used a 21-9 spurt in the closing 6:22 of the half to take a 41-37 lead to the locker room. Prior to Fairmont's 21-9 run, Wheeling held its largest lead of the game at 28-20.
 
The Falcons never trailed in the second half of the contest and took a double-digit lead for good at the 7:27 mark following a three by Vonte Montgomery.
 
The story of the game was the success of the FSU press and pressure defense that forced Wheeling Jesuit into 22 turnovers on the evening. Those 22 turnovers led to a commanding 28-3 scoring margin in points-off turnovers. The Falcons turned the ball over just five times in the win.
 
Wheeling Jesuit held a 56-36 scoring advantage in the paint and out-rebounded the Falcons 46-23 in the losing effort. The Cardinals also shot 53 percent from the floor compared to just 49 percent for FSU.
 
The Falcons had five players in double-figures, led by Matt Bingaya with 25 points and seven rebounds. The Falcons also got 19 points from Montgomery, a season-high 18 points and four assists from Shammgod Wells and 11 points apiece from Jason Jolly and Thomas Wimbush.
 
Jarin Hilson tallied a team-high 19 points to lead Wheeling Jesuit (17-4, 11-4 MEC). Haywood Highsmith added another double-double performance, chipping in 17 points and 19 boards.
 
The Falcons went to the free throw line 36 times on the evening (27-of-36), compared to just 18 times for the Cardinals.