Photo By Kim North The annual Mountain East Conference preseason men’s basketball media day was held Tuesday inside WesBanco Arena in downtown Wheeling. Pictured are Wheeling University head coach Chris Richardson, left, and West Liberty University head coach Michael Lamberti. The Hilltoppers were voted No. 2 by conference coaches, with Cardinals being No. 8.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first of a two-part series about the Mountain East Conference Basketball Preseason Poll, as voted upon by conference head coaches. Today features the men’s rankings. THURSDAY: Women’s poll.

WHEELING — Fairmont State grabbed the top in the Mountain East Conference men’s basketball preseason coaches’ poll which was announced Tuesday during Media Day inside the lobby of WesBanco Arena. West Liberty received the No. 2 spot.

The Falcons, who outlasted the Hilltoppers 122-144 in triple overtime in last year’s tournament finale and finished 27-5, received 10 first-place votes and 100 points, while the Hilltoppers had one first-place vote and 88 points.

Although it finished as the tournament runnerup, West Liberty captured its eighth consecutive MEC regular-season championship while qualifying for its eighth NCAA Division II Elite 8 Tournament. The program’s streak of 16 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances remains an active national record.

West Liberty will be under the direction of first-year head coach Michael Lamberti, a former player and assistant coach under Ben Howlett. Lamberti coached at Coker (SC) University for a year before returning to the hilltop.

“I’m honored and excited to lead a program that has meant so much to me personally and professionally,” Lamberti said. “West Liberty basketball is built on tradition, culture, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. I can’t wait to get started with our players, staff, and the Topper Nation community as we build on that legacy.”

Behind Lamberti’s leadership, the Hilltoppers look to once again be a force in one of the deepest conferences in Division II. Charleston, Glenville State, and Concord rounded out the top five in the MEC preseason poll, followed by West Virginia State, Frostburg State, and a tie between Wheeling and Davis & Elkins for eighth.

“I’ve been all over (NCAA) Division II basketball and there’s a way they do conference tournaments, the way they do it here is the right way,” Wheeling University head coach Chris Richardson said. “The city, community and the Ohio Valley really wrap their arms around it and it’s a great experience for the student-athletes.”

Each head coach spoke to those in attendance about the upcoming season.

The 2025-26 MEC Basketball Championships will return to WesBanco Arena in Wheeling from March 4-8, concluding with the men’s and women’s championship games on Sunday, March 8.