WHEELING, W.Va. – The Fairmont State (24-7) men's basketball team fell in the Mountain East Conference Championship to West Liberty (28-3) on Sunday (March 5) at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, W.Va.

The Hilltoppers, who shot 50.6% from the floor, jumped out to a 20-point lead after the first half and controlled the pace en route to the conference title. The Falcons were held to 42.7% shooting.
 
George Mangas and Tariq Woody both scored 12 points in the championship. Zyon Dobbs, who was named to the MEC All-Tournament Team with Isaiah Sanders, finished with 11 points and was one rebound shy of his third-consecutive double-double. Briggs Parris chipped in 11 points while Fonz Hale scored 10.
 
The Falcons controlled the opening tip and Sanders dumped a pass to Younkin for a slam on Fairmont State's first possession. After the two teams exchanged the lead three times, Dobbs found Mangas in the lane for a layup to pull the Falcons back in front, 11-10. The 'Toppers scored three unanswered points and led 13-11 with 13 minutes left in the first half. Woody tied the game after a stick-back layup to even the score at 13. West Liberty found its rhythm on offense and scored six straight to jump in front 19-13. Parris sank a three-pointer at the 11:37 mark to cut the lead to three. WLU jumped out to a 10-point lead and forced a Fairmont State timeout with 10:37 to play. With Fairmont State trailing by eight, WLU went on a 10-4 run to go up 16 with less than four minutes in the half. WLU led by as many as 22 points in the first half. Dobbs made a layup with 11 seconds left and WLU led 53-33 at the break.
 
Fairmont State scored the first four points of the second half with layups by Sanders and Mangas. MEC Player of the Year Bryce Butler knocked down three-pointers on consecutive possessions and the 'Toppers went back up by 22. West Liberty continued to make buckets and extended the lead. WLU made 10 shots from beyond the arc in the second half and made half of their three-point attempts. The Hilltoppers capitalized on the strong offense and claimed the MEC Tournament Championship.
 
With the fifth ranking in the latest Atlantic Regional rankings, the Falcons will learn the national tournament field tonight at 11 p.m. when the NCAA Division II Selection Show airs.