MBB: UPSET, SPECIAL

MOUNTAIN LIONS STUN WHEELING JESUIT TO REACH WVIAC SEMIFINALS

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Given a second chance, the Concord men's basketball sprung the first major upset of this year's WVIAC Tournament.

CU couldn't convert an opportunity to win in regulation, but persevered in overtime to knock out 3rd-seeded Wheeling Jesuit, 89-84, at the Charleston Civic Center Coliseum.

The victory propels the 6th-seeded Mountain Lions into Friday's semifinals.  Concord will meet either the University of Charleston at 6:30 pm. 

It's CU's first semifinals appearance since 2007, and Thursday's victory represents the latest high point for a Mountain Lions squad that was 10-10 on February 4.


The score was tied at 74-74 when WJU's Recardo Gaddy fouled CU's Corey Neeley with :01.9 left in regulation.  Neeley misfired on the front of the bonus and the game went to overtime.

The lead changed hands three times early in overtime and the score was tied at 81-81 in the final minute before the Mountain Lions took control. 

Gentry Shrewsbury gave Concord the lead on a layup, on his first basket of the game – off an assist from Corey Neeley – with :37 to go.  WJU missed on its next possession, and the Cardinals' Joe Prati intentionally fouled Shrewsbury, who made the first of two free throws with :22 left.  After he missed the second, Neeley grabbed the rebound and was fouled.

Neeley calmly drained his two free throws to stretch CU's lead to 86-81.

The Cardinal's Steve Catich sank a three-point shot with :16 left, but a free throw from Cory Willard and two more from Neeley – with three-tenths of a second remaining -- put the contest out of reach.

Wheeling Jesuit led by as many as nine points in the 1st but Concord closed within 43-40 at the break.  The Cardinals took their biggest lead of the 2nd half at 58-52 with 12:08 left in the 2nd half before the Mountain Lions clawed back.

Javaughn Acree-Manuel paced Concord with 24 points, to go with five rebounds and five steals.  Neeley added 17 points, seven rebounds and three assists.  Romel Kemp chipped in 15 points and seven rebounds, and Willard finished with 12 points.

Catich topped Wheeling Jesuit (21-9) with 22 points – 16 after halftime.  Point guard Ben Seifert just missed a triple-double, with 21 points, ten assists and eight rebounds.  But he also committed eight turnovers, as WJU committed the cardinal sin of giving away the ball 29 times – thanks in large part to the Concord's 17 steals.

BOXSCORE
(courtesy WVIAC)

Up next for Concord (17-11) is Friday evening's semifinal.  The game will be broadcast locally on ESPN Radio 102.3 The Ticket (WMTD Hinton/Princeton/Beckley), as part of the WVIAC Tournament Network, starting at 6:15.

A link to the network's webcast can be found in the navigation bar near the top of the men's basketball homepage here on www.cumountainlions.com.

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