MBB: THRICE IS NICE

CU STOPS WV STATE THREE TIMES IN FINAL SECONDS IN ROAD WIN

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After seeing his team give up more than 80 points in back-to-back losses, Kent McBride had seen enough.

“We're still not where we need to be on defense,” the first-year Concord men's basketball coach said before Thursday's meeting with WVIAC rival.  “Anyone who doesn't guard the ball won't play much.  Our guys have to think defense into offense, not offense into defense.  Defense has to come first.”

With Thursday's game on the line, the Mountain Lions did what their coach wanted.  Concord stopped three potential game-winning shots in the final six seconds to preserve a 74-73 victory in Fleming Hall in Institute, WV.

CU's late stand started with Charles Brooks' block of Corey Bethea's layup attempt with :06 to go.  Bethea missed a jumper with :02 left, and Concord had the ball, but turned it over with :00.8 still showing.  Robbie Lewis missed a desperation shot at the final buzzer.

The victory ended CU's two-game skid and completed a regular-season sweep of the Yellow Jackets.  Concord beat WVSU, 72-66, on November 16 at the Carter Center.

Concord's defense limited State to .338 (25-74) from the field and .348 (8-23) from three-point range.  CU also blocked a season-high 17 shots, including eight by Romel Kemp.

The Mountain Lions shot .464 (13-28) from beyond the arc and .450 (27-60) overall. 

The game was tied 20-20 with just over seven minutes gone in the 1st half when Concord caught fire from long distance.  Corey Willard made four straight three-pointers, with Kemp and Damien Tunstalle adding one apiece as CU took a 38-29 lead into halftime.

WV State went on a 14-4 run over the first 5:33 of the 2nd half to go ahead 43-42, and the contest was tight down to the end.  There would be six tie scores and seven lead changes before sank another three-pointer to put Concord ahead 74-71 with 1:53 remaining.

David Ford's tip-in with :30 left pulled WVSU within a point, but that was as close as they would get.

Tunstalle (right) went 5-6 from three-point range to lead Concord with 15 points.  Kemp narrowly missed a triple-double, finishing with 13 points, eight rebounds and those eight blocked shots.  Willard added 12 points. 
Freshman point guard Mike Boyd went for eight points, five assists and five rebounds.  Brooks posted eight points, four rebounds and four blocked shot.

Bethea topped WVSU (6-7, 4-5) with 27 points.  Point guard Delrico Lane added six points, nine assists and a game-high 11 rebounds.

BOXSCORE/PLAY-BY-PLAY

Up next for Concord (8-6, 5-5) is a visit to WVIAC foe Wheeling Jesuit on Saturday, January 9.  Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 pm at the McDonough Center in Wheeling, WV.  CU defeated the Cardinals, 89-84, on December 7 at the Carter Center.


(statistics courtesy of WVSU Sports Information)

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