MEN'S BASKETBALL: OUT OF CHANCES

CU STAYS CLOSE BUT FALLS TO SHEPHERD

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With the clock and his team's chances running out, Javaughn Acree-Manuel found himself with the ball and wide open 25 feet away from the basket.

If the Concord guard could sink a three-pointer from there, the Mountain Lions would force overtime in a game they never led.

The shot didn't connect, symbolic of the day for the Mountain Lions. Concord misfired on several opportunities to take the lead late in the game, and lost to Shepherd 79-76 in a WVIAC game Saturday afternoon at the Carter Center.

The Rams opened the game on a 13-2 run. Concord countered with a 17-7 spurt to get within 20-19 midway through the 1st half. Shepherd would push its lead to 33-25 with 3:00 left, but CU pulled within 36-31 at halftime.

The Rams opened the 2nd half like the first, moving out to an 11-point lead at 42-31 just 1:21 after the break. The Rams would hold a double-digit lead at 53-43 with 11:51 remaining, but CU responded with a 9-2 run – with seven points from Rick Alderman – to get within 55-52 at the 9:31 mark.

The Mountain Lions stayed close, then tied the game at 70-70 on an Alderman layup with 2:52 left. But Shepherd bolted back in front with back-to-back three-point shots from Sidney McCray and Jonathan Motichka and a 76-60 lead with 1:03 remaining.

Concord closed to 79-76 on Aaron Fluellen's layup with :17 to go, then fouled McCray. He missed both free throw attempts with :14 left, setting the stage for Acree-Manuel's near-miss.

Shepherd won despite committing 29 turnovers and attempting six fewer field goals than Concord, largely due to their significant advantages in rebounds (43-26) and three point shots (9-26 vs 0-12).

Alderman led all scorers with 29 points. The sophomore shot 9-14 from the field and 11-16 from the line. Acree-Manuel added 11 points, and Fluellen and Rafee Smith 10 each.

Chad Moore topped Shepherd (9-12, 6-10) with 21 points and 14 rebounds, but committed eight turnovers. Motichka had 17 points and was 4-8 from three point range. Aeron Spencer and Dave Karlson each posted 11 points.


BOXSCORE/PLAY-BY-PLAY


The Mountain Lions (8-11, 5-10) will try to snap their four-game losing streak in a WVIAC matchup against Alderson-Broaddus at the Carter Center on Monday, February 7, at 7:30 pm.

The game will be broadcast on ESPN Radio 102.3 The Ticket as part of a doubleheader with the women's game, which begins at 5:30 pm.

Links to Concord's live, streaming video, Live Stats, and 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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