Photo by Nick Henthorn The West Liberty Hilltoppers’ Myles Montgomery (right), Dante Spadafora (middle) and Aiden Davis (left) celebrate while running off the court Saturday inside WesBanco Arena.

WEST LIBERTY — The West Liberty University men’s basketball team is headed back to the NCAA Tournament for a record 17th consecutive season, extending the Division II record the Hilltoppers set last year with their 16th straight appearance.

West Liberty earned the No. 2 seed in the Atlantic Region after capturing both the Mountain East Conference regular season and tournament championships this year.

The Hilltoppers will face No. 7 seed Virginia Union in the opening round of the Atlantic Regional. The matchup will mark the second meeting between the two teams this season. Virginia Union defeated West Liberty 94-88 in Richmond, Va., in the Hilltoppers’ first road game of the season at Barco-Stevens Hall.

Top-seeded Gannon will serve as the regional host. Two additional MEC programs join the Hilltoppers in the eight-team field. Fairmont State enters as the No. 3 seed, setting up the possibility of a fourth meeting this season between the Falcons and Hilltoppers if both teams advance past the opening round. Charleston secured the No. 8 seed and will face the host Golden Knights in the first round.

West Liberty has a rich history of success in the Atlantic Regional, winning the title eight times, including last season’s championship victory over Gannon at the ASRC. The Hilltoppers also claimed regional crowns in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2021.

The NCAA Atlantic Regional will begin Saturday with first-round games, followed by the second round on Sunday. The regional championship game is scheduled for Tuesday, March 17. Game times will be announced later this week.

Tickets for the Atlantic Regional will be available to the general public beginning Tuesday at 12 p.m. and must be purchased online through Gannon’s ticketing system. Reserved Seating — $22; Adult General Admission — $12; Student (K–12) — $6. Tickets are sold by game day, meaning separate tickets are required for Saturday, Sunday, and Tuesday.