WEST LIBERTY — West Liberty returns home Saturday looking to bounce back from its first loss of the season as the Hilltoppers welcome unbeaten Shepherd for a 4 p.m. non-conference matchup at the ASRC.

The Hilltoppers (2-1) are coming off a tightly contested 94-88 defeat at Virginia Union on Tuesday despite placing five players in double figures.

Dante Spadafora paced West Liberty with 19 points, followed by Jamie Muldowney (17), Max Hurray (16), Peter Lattos (12) and Terrance Pankey (11).

Despite the loss, West Liberty continues to show its trademark offensive efficiency, averaging 91.3 points per game while knocking down 11.3 threes per contest.

Muldowney leads the roster with 19.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, while Spadafora adds 15.0 points and a team-high 27 made free throws. The Hilltoppers also own a +5 turnover margin and force nearly 10 steals per night.

Shepherd (3-0) arrives at the ASRC with its best start since the 2018-19 season under longtime head coach Justin Namolik, a Wheeling Park alumnus now in his 17th year leading the Rams.

Shepherd’s early success has been driven by standout guard Marcus Banks, who is averaging 21.0 points per game and getting to the line with consistency, making 31 of his first 42 free-throw attempts.

Colby White (13.0 ppg) and Elwyne Wordlaw (9.7 ppg) keep the backcourt balanced, while the Rams hold a significant +11.3 rebounding margin, one of the best early-season figures in the region.

The matchup has historically belonged to the Hilltoppers, who lead the all-time series 98-53 and have won 29 straight meetings against Shepherd.

The Rams’ last victory in the series came on Jan. 9, 2006, a 99-86 decision at the ASRC. West Liberty has also been nearly unbeatable at home in recent years, winning 145 of its last 153 games inside the arena.

The teams met last season on Nov. 16, 2024, when West Liberty posted a 92-72 win. The Hilltoppers also claimed victories in 2022, 2019, 2018 and 2018 by margins ranging from two to 37 points.

Saturday’s contest will test West Liberty’s pace and perimeter shooting against a Shepherd team that thrives on physicality, rebounding, and efficiency at the foul line.

The Hilltoppers look to remain perfect at home, while the Rams seek to extend their undefeated start.

Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. at the ASRC.