WHEELING, W.Va. -- The 11th-ranked Fairmont State University men's basketball team matched up against the 5th-ranked West Liberty Hilltoppers for the Mountain East Conference crown. After battling through three overtimes, the Falcons upset the Hilltoppers to claim the title, 122-114.

"What a great win, so proud of the guys, coaches, school and town," head coach Tim Koenig said after the game. "Just so happy for these guys."

Rudy Fitzgibbons was named the Tournament MVP as he led the team with 26 points, five boards, three assists and two steals. Sam Emich added 24 points with nine rebounds while Tyheil Peterson dropped in 20 points off the bench. Tommy Williams finished the game with a double-double as he scored 11 points with 14 rebounds.

West Liberty (27-4) opened the scoring before Fairmont State (27-4) went on an 8-0 run including threes from Rudy Fitzgibbons and Sam Emich. The two teams went back-and-forth for the next few possessions but the Falcons geared up the offense once more. The team used a 12-2 run to open a 13-point lead (20-7) with 11:32 left in the first half.

The Hilltoppers had an answer as they scored the next eight points. Just as advertised, the two heavyweight programs traded baskets up and down the floor. As time was winding down in the first half, West Liberty it a three to take a 44-42 lead. Peterson made a late free throw to make it a 44-43 contest going to the second half.

In the second half, Fairmont State went back in front thanks to a couple of free throws from Emich. The chess match continued as each side matched the others until the Hilltoppers scored 10-straight points to lead 59-51 with 15:49 left in regulation. A three by Tommy Williams followed by a fastbreak layup from CJ Little made it a three-point game. 

However, West Liberty used another run, 11-3 this time, to hold a double-digit advantage (70-59) as the clock read 11:48. The Falcons slowed closed the gap and after a Fitzgibbons free throw, only trailed 75-72. The Hilltoppers swiftly made it a seven-point game once more but Fairmont State was not done. Thanks to a 10-2 run with a couple of threes by Peterson and Fitzgibbons, FSU claimed an 82-81 edge. 

West Liberty followed with a three but Fitzgibbons laid one in to tie the game at 84. Once again, the Hilltoppers went back in front with two free throws as the Falcons had one possession to tie the game. During the play, Fitzgibbons missed a layup but Andre Harris followed the shot and made the putback to send the game to overtime tied at 86.

The first overtime started slow with neither side being able to make a field goal until West Liberty broke the ice with a layup. As both teams warmed up, the lead kept jockeying between the two. Once again, Fairmont State was down to its final possession but just like the end of regulation, Fitzgibbons wasn't able to get the layup to go but Harris followed it with the tip-in to tie the game at 95 and force another overtime.

Unlike the first overtime, Fitzgibbons hit a three in the opening seconds. However, the Hilltoppers responded with the next five points to go ahead 100-98. The two sides traded shot for shot until with 13 seconds left, Harris once again followed a Fitzgibbons layup to corrall the rebound and score the tying basket.

In the third overtime, it was Emich who hit the early three for FSU. West Liberty pulled within one but a three by Fitzgibbons gave the Falcons a 110-106 lead with 3:24 on the clock. The Hilltoppers were able to work the difference to just one but down the stretch, Fairmont was a perfect 6-6 from the free throw line to hold the advantage. As 14 seconds remained on the clock, Peterson stole the ball and laid in the final basket to clinch the championship victory, 122-114.

The Falcons won the battle of the boards by 18 (57-39) and scored 21 second chance points. The team finished the evening shooting 54.3-percent from the field (44-81) and 57.1-percent from distance (16-28).

"We just wanted to give ourselves a chance to win," Rudy Fitzgibbons mentioned. "We trusted everyone and the work we put in all year, we were ready for this."

"As the overtimes went, I just kept reminding myself to lock in," Sam Emich added. "I think everyone had that same mindset. Crazy roller coaster of emotions at the end but glad we finished on top."

Fairmont State will now await the announcement of the NCAA Divsion II Atlantic Region Bracket to see who and where they will be playing. The NCAA Division II Tournament will kickoff on Friday, March 14. To see who and where the Falcons will play, follow this link.