LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Missouri S&T handed #3 West Liberty their first loss of the season, defeating the Hilltoppers 89-78. This marked S&T's largest margin of victory over a team ranked in the top three. It is also just the second time in Miner history that S&T has beaten two ranked in the sam season... the last time coming in 1992-93 with victories over #2 Washburn and #8 Missouri Western.
The game was a nail-biter for most of the contest, featuring 14 lead changes and 17 ties. The Hilltoppers implemented a defensive press that has helped force 186 opponent turnovers and has ranked the team 10th in the country in turnover margin. The Miners, however, fared well against the press, repeatedly breaking it and pulling ahead 26-14 with nine minutes left in the first half.
West Liberty responded with a strong run over the next four and a half minutes, outscoring S&T 19-5 to take their second lead of the game, 33-31, with under five minutes remaining in the first half. Andrew Young (Ballwin, MO/Marquette) provided the needed push to keep the score close before halftime, recording six points, a block, and three rebounds in the closing minutes to send both teams into the locker room tied at 39.
The teams matched each other shot for shot throughout much of the second half, with the score tied 10 times in the first 12 minutes. Seven different Miners contributed baskets during the first part of the second half, leading to a 66-66 score with less than eight minutes to play.
Coming out of the second-to-last media timeout of the game at 7:45, Blaise Beauchamp (Minnetonka, MN/Hopkins) hit a three-pointer to give the Miners a 69-66 lead. The Hilltoppers responded with four consecutive points, regaining a 70-69 advantage with six and a half minutes left. However, six straight points in the paint for S&T, followed by another three-pointer from Beauchamp, put the Miners ahead 78-70 at the 4:25 mark. S&T protected their lead down the stretch, securing defensive stops and converting crucial free throws to seal the 89-78 victory over West Liberty.
Young led the team in scoring with a season-high 24 points, shooting 9-of-12 from the field. He also led the team in rebounds with nine and in blocks with three. Three other Miners scored in double digits, with Lovell Williams (Rogers, MN/Maple Grove), Ryan Sroka (Lake in the Hills, IL/Huntley), and Cameron Stovall (St. Louis, MO/Vashon) each contributing 10 or more points. Stovall's 15 points marked a season-high for him and tied for the second-highest scoring game of his S&T career. The team shot 57.6% from the field in the second half, outscoring West Liberty 50-39 in the period.
What's Next
The Miners close out the year with a game at home against Principia on New Year's Eve.
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