Box Score
ATHENS, W. Va. – A 16-point second half deficit proved too much for the Concord University men's basketball team to overcome as the Mountain Lions lost to West Virginia State, 94-85, in Mountain East Conference play Saturday afternoon at the Carter Center.
After closing the opening half down 12 points, Concord (5-11, 2-8 MEC) found itself trailing 54-38 just over a minute into the second period, before quickly getting back in the game by going on a 22-9 run over a seven-minute stretch to cut the West Virginia State (7-6, 4-6 MEC) lead down to just three points at 63-60 with 11:04 remaining in the game.
The run was sparked by junior guard
Mike Boyd, who scored seven of his 16 points on the night during the spurt. Boyd scored 14 points in the second half on 5-of-5 shooting from the field and a 4-for-7 effort from the foul line.
However, the Mountain Lions' hopes of a comeback were quickly dashed when the Yellow Jackets built their advantage back up to a commanding 13 points after scoring 14 of the game's next 18 points to move ahead 77-64 with 6:51 left in regulation on their way to the nine-point victory.
Boyd went 6-for-9 from the field and 4-for-8 from the foul line to rack up his 14th double-digit scoring effort of the season while also passing out a game-best five assists. Boyd's five assists moved him into 12th place in the Concord record books in career assists, passing Jerrod Coefield (301 assists / 2001-05). He now needs 10 assists to pass Concord Hall of Famer Julius Locket (314 assists / 1986-90) for 11th place.
Sophomore guard
Cam Shannon matched Boyd for the team-lead in points thanks in part to a 10-for-12 effort from the free throw line. Over Concord's last three games, Shannon is averaging 18.3 points per contest.
Freshman guard
B.J. Hamlet and junior guard A.J. Williams both finished in double figures as well with 14 and 11 points, respectively. The duo also hit the glass with Williams grabbing seven rebounds and Hamlet, who also made four three-pointers, pulling down five rebounds.
Sophomore forward
Terry Hopewell added six points and a team-best eight rebounds. Sophomore forwards
Nick Moyer and
Taylor Smith rounded out Concord's leading scorers with eight points apiece. Moyer also had four rebounds, two steals and one block.
As a team, Concord committed a season-low eight turnovers while forcing West Virginia State into 15 miscues. The Mountain Lions also held advantages over West Virginia State in steals (6-5), points off turnovers (15-8), points in the paint (42-28) and bench scoring (25-21).
However, the Yellow Jackets held key edges in shooting by besting CU in field goal percentage (44.6-38.6), three-point percentage (47.6-18.2) and free throw percentage (78.8-69.2). West Virginia State was led by Bo King, who scored a game-high 36 points including 24 first-half points.
Concord will return to the road for a pair of games starting with a contest an UVa.-Wise on Jan. 23 at 7:30 p.m.
