Box Score

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Dan Monteroso scored 27 points and James Griffin added 23 points and seven rebounds to lead seventh-ranked West Liberty (8-0, 5-0 MEC) to a 99-80 win over Shepherd University (3-5, 2-3 MEC) in MEC men's basketball action at the Butcher Center on Wednesday night.

Junior forward Winston Burgess (Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge) tied a career high with a team-high 21 points to pace the Rams. He hit on 7-of-9 field goals with a 7-of-12, effort from the foul line. Burgess also grabbed a team-high six rebounds and blocked a pair of shots.

Senior guard Steffen Davis (Accokeek, Md./Maret School) added 19 points, sophomore guard Thomas Lang (New Market, Md./Linganore) had 18, while senior forward AJ Carr (Fairfax, Va./St. James School) added 17. Junior guard Derek McKnight (Teaneck, NJ/Gaston (N.C.) Day School/Louisburg CC) tied Monteroso with a game-high five assists.

Dalton Bolon had 19 points and Evan French added 11 for the Hilltoppers.

Shepherd opened the game on a 21-5 run, but West Liberty rallied to take a 53-46 lead at the break as Monteroso (14) and Griffin (13) combined for 27 first-half points.

The Rams kept the game close until midway through the second half. The Hilltoppers took a double-digit lead for good at 73-63 on a layup by Luke Dyer with 10:04 remaining.

Shepherd connected on 44.8 percent (26-58) from the floor with a 37 percent (10-27) performance from beyond the arc for the game. The Rams hit on 69.2 percent (18-26) of their free throws.

West Liberty shot 47.6 percent (30-63) from the floor with a 50 percent effort (13-26) from three-point range. The Hilltoppers shot 76.5 percent (26-34) from the charity stripe.

West Liberty had a 41-34 edge in rebounding. The Rams forced eight turnovers and committed 11.

The Rams return to action on Saturday when they travel to Wheeling Jesuit for a 4 p.m. contest.