MEN'S BASKETBALL: HALF-GOOD, HALF-BAD

2nd HALF WOES LEAD TO MOUNTAIN LIONS' LOSS

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The Concord Men's Basketball team went into Saturday's WVIAC matchup against Wheeling Jesuit knowing the Cardinals had erupted for a huge 2nd half in their last game.

WJU outscored the University of Charleston 53-32 in the final 20 minutes to claim an 86-65 win in the state capital Thursday night.

So when the Cardinals fell behind by 16 points on Saturday afternoon at the Carter Center, they didn't get unnerved.

Wheeling Jesuit did to CU what they did to UC, rallying for a 52-35 advantage after halftime in handing the Mountain Lions a stinging 82-81 setback in Athens.

Steve Catich capped a game-high 24-point performance with the game-winning layup with less than six seconds remaining.

The game was a matter of half-by-half contrasts.

Concord shot .514 (19-37) in the 1st half, but cooled to .321 (9-28) in the 2nd. Wheeling Jesuit was .333 (11-33) from the field in the 1st half, but a boiling-hot .680 (17-25) after halftime.

Concord was 6-11 from three-point range in the 1st half, 3-11 in the 2nd. Wheeling Jesuit missed all 13 of their 3-point tries in the first 20 minutes, but was an efficient 3-4 in the 2nd half.

The Mountain Lions bolted out to a quick 10-2 lead and, propelled by Corey Neeley and Rick Alderman would get ahead by as many as 22 points (46-24) before going into the locker room with a 46-30 halftime advantage.

Neeley sank 5-7 shots for 13 points in the 1st half, while Alderman posted 12 points on 6-9 shooting.

Rafee Smith's jumper on the first possession of the 2nd half lifted Concord to a 48-30 lead. Then Wheeling Jesuit began its comeback.

The Cardinals went on a 22-6 run – with seven points from Catich – to tie the game at 52-52 with 13:39 remaining.

The Mountain Lions responded with an 11-5 mini-rally, getting six points from Gentry Shrewsbury and five from Kortea Johnson, to lead 63-57 with 9:30 left.

WJU answered with a 21-9 spurt to take a 78-72 lead with 2:44 left. Concord replied with seven straight points from Javaughn Acree-Manuel to move ahead 79-78 with 1:17 on the clock.

Catich put the Cardinals back in front with a layup 13 seconds later. Acree-Manuel missed a three-pointer, but WJU's Obi Okwuoma missed a pair of free throw and Concord got the ball back.

Alderman set up Shrewsbury for a 12-foot jumper (right) that gave CU an 80-79 lead with :27 left. But, after a timeout, Wheeling Jesuit perfectly executed a play that resulted in Catich's game-winning layup.

Concord saw six players score in double figures, led by Acree-Manuel's 17 points.

BOXSCORE/PLAY-BY-PLAY

Up next for Concord is a visit to Davis & Elkins for a WVIAC contest on Wednesday, January 19. Tip-off is set for 7:30 pm.
The game will be broadcast on ESPN Radio 102.3 The Ticket. A link to The Ticket's audio webcast can be found on the Men's Basketball homepage at www.cumountainlions.com.


_{(photos by Jennifer Logan)}

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