MBB: HOT AND COLD

MOUNTAIN LIONS NEVER TRAIL IN WIN AT WVU TECH

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Ask the residents of southern West Virginia about the weather at this time of year, and they'll tell you – things can go from hot to cold in a hurry.

The Concord men's basketball team visited both sides of the thermometer Tuesday night.  The Mountain Lions started hot, went cold, but never fell behind in an 87-84 win over WVU Tech in a non-conference contest at the Baisi Center in Montgomery, WV.

Concord shot a sweltering .531 (17-32) from the field in the 1st half – making six of its last seven shots – to take a 52-38 lead at halftime.  Cory Willard (left) and Corey Neeley had the hottest hands – each guard was a perfect 4-4 from three-point range.

Meanwhile, the CU defense cooled off the Golden Bears to .390 (16-41) from the field in the 1st half, well below their season average of .531.

Concord would extend its lead to 17 points, at 61-44, four minutes into the 2nd half.  But then the Mountain Lions' touch turned frigid.  CU missed 15 of its next 20 shots, while WVU Tech made 11 of its next 17 to move within 78-75 with 4:27 left in regulation.

But Romel Kemp's layup pushed the lead back up to five, and the Mountain Lions kept the Golden Bears at bay by going 6-8 from the free throw in the game's final minutes.

Neeley and Willard each finished with 18 points to lead the Mountain Lions.  Javaughn Manuel sank 7-14 shots to end with 17 points, along with four rebounds and four assists.  Freshman point guard Mike Boyd (right) went 10-11 from the free throw line (7-8 in the 2nd half) on his way to a 16-point night.

Doma Ibrahim topped WVU Tech (8-4) with 16 points.  Eddie Hayden posted a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds.  The Golden Bears shot .576 (19-33) from the field in the 2nd half.

Concord never trailed Tuesday night.  There were four ties, the last at 21-21 midway through the 1st half.

Tuesday was Concord's final non-conference game of the 2011-12 campaign.  CU split its two meetings with WVU Tech this season, after falling 103-96 in overtime in Athens on November 11.

Up next for Concord (7-4) is a meeting with WVIAC rival Fairmont State at the Carter Center on Saturday, January 7.  The contest is part of a doubleheader with CU's women's team, with tipoff scheduled for 4:00 pm.

Saturday is “Camp Reunion Day,” and all fans are encouraged to wear maroon and gray to support the Mountain Lions.

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