Box Score CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Seger Bonifant scored a game-high 24 points to lead fourth-ranked West Liberty to an 89-75 win over Shepherd University in quarterfinal action of the MEC Men's Basketball Tournament at the Charleston Civic Center on Friday night.

Shepherd was led by senior guard Austin Cunningham (Vincent, Ohio/Warren Local/Ohio Valley) with 16 points. Cunningham connected on 5-of-12 field goals with a 4-of-9 effort from three-point range. He was 2-of-2 from the foul line. He also tied freshman forward AJ Carr (Fairfax, Va./St. James School) with  a team-high three assists.

Sophomore guard Naim Muhammad (Waldorf, Md./North Point) added 15 points, while junior forward Ryan McTavish (Mt. Airy, Md./South Carroll/Presbyterian) contributed 11.

Senior forward Morgan McDonald (Inwood, W.Va./Musselman) posted game-highs 14 rebounds and four blocked shots for the Rams. His four blocks tie his career-high effort.

CJ Hester added 19 points and 13 rebounds for the Hilltoppers. Zac Grossenbacher added 11 points, while Joe Lococo had 10. Indiana Faithfull had a game-high six assists.

West Liiberty opened the game on a 9-0 run en route to a 43-34 lead at halftime. Bonifant led the Hilltoppers with 16 first half points.

The Hilltoppers opened the second half on a 13-7 run to take a 15-point lead at 56-41 with after a three-pointer by Bonifant with 16:30 remaining and Shepherd was unable to recover. West Liberty had three three-pointers during the run.

Shepherd hit on 23-of-64 field goals (35.9 percent) with an 8-of-22 effort (36.4 percent) effort from three-point range for the game. The Rams connected on 21-of-29 free throws (72.4 percent).

West Liberty connected on 31-of-63 field goals (49.2 percent) with a 7-of-15 effort (46.7 percent) from beyond the arc. The Hilltoppers were 20-of-25 from the foul line (80 percent).

The Hilltoppers had a 42-40 advantage on the boards. The Rams forced 17 turnovers and committed 19.

Shepherd completes its season at 15-15, while #4 West Liberty improves to 26-2. The Hilltoppers advance to the semifinals of MEC Tournament to face the winner of tonight's Charleston-Glenville State game on Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Charleston Civic Center.

Notes: McDonald completes his career with 1,208 points to rank 22nd on the Shepherd all-time scoring list… his 741 career rebounds rank him 10th on the SU all-time rebounding list… Cunningham ended his career with 1,196 points to rank 23rd on the all-time list… Cunningham's  371 career assists rank him 10th on the SU all-time list.