Box Score
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Junior guard
Mike Boyd matched a career-high with 24 points and freshman forward
Jalen Camper added 14 points to lead the Concord University men's basketball team to an 83-78 season-opening victory over Fayetteville State Friday night at the Big House Gaines Tip-Off Classic in Winston-Salem, N.C.
The Mountain Lions' first victory of the year came in a nip-and-tuck contest that featured 13 lead changes and 11 ties with the largest lead of the night being by just eight points.
Concord trailed the Broncos by two points (73-71) with 3:50 remaining in the second half before finishing the game on a 12-5 run thanks in part to eight points from Boyd. For the game, Boyd went 9-for-17 from the field and 5-for-7 from the free throw line while also passing out three assists and making two steals.
Boyd was assisted on the offensive end by a pair of freshman in Camper and
Ali Barnes. Each player made a pair of three-pointers with Camper finishing the night with 14 points followed closely by Barnes' 12.
Camper also had a strong showing on the glass, recording six rebounds, while Barnes provided Concord with a much-needed lift in the middle of the second half by scoring eight points in just over three minutes.
Sophomore forward
Nick Moyer registered a stat line that included six points, a team-high seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block. In addition to blocking two shots, sophomore forward
Terry Hopewell grabbed six rebounds, three of which came on the offensive glass.
Other contributors for CU included junior guard A.J. Williams and freshman forward
Grant Dickinson. Williams compiled eight points, five rebounds and two steals while Dickinson scored eight points in seven minutes played.
As a team, Concord shot 44.6 percent (29-for-65) from the field and 82.6 percent (19-for-23) from the foul line. The Mountain Lions held advantages over Fayetteville State in rebounds (40-37), points off of turnovers (20-18) and fast break points (12-8).
Concord led for the majority of the first half and took a 42-41 lead into the break. Fayetteville State jumped out to a 46-42 lead to start the second half, but Concord quickly erased the lead by going on a 7-3 run thanks to a three-pointer from Camper, a dunk from Hopewell and a layup by Dickinson.
The remainder of the period was a back-and-forth game before Concord pulled away with its strong performance down the stretch en route to the 83-78 victory. Boyd and Barnes combined to score 25 of CU's 41 second-half points.Â
The Broncos were led by Torian Showers, who posted a double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds in the loss.
Concord will look for its second win in as many days when it takes on host Winston-Salem State 8:00 p.m. Saturday.
