ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University men's basketball team pulled out a physical, grueling win over West Virginia Wesleyan, 66-61, Thursday night at the Carter Center in Mountain East Conference play.
CU (12-6, 8-5 MEC) held off a late push by the Bobcats (8-11, 6-7 MEC). Concord, as they have done all season, locked down on West Virginia Wesleyan over the final 2:33 of the game, giving up just two points in that span.
The Mountain Lions held a lead of three or more possessions for most of the game including a 36-26 lead at the intermission. With Concord leading 59-49 and 6:28 showing on the second half clock, the Bobcats began their late-game push as they outscored the Mountain Lions 10-4 over the next four minutes to pull within four points, 63-59, with 2:33 left.
A layup by WVWC's Tanner McGrew with 1:38 left cut the lead to two points for Concord.
However, Concord's defense stood tall at the most crucial point in the game. After junior forward
Jametrius Wade hit 1-of-2 free throws to give CU a 64-61 edge with 1:20 remaining, the Mountain Lions got a steal from senior guard
Paul Byrd on the ensuing Bobcat possession.
After CU's offensive possession yielded a turnover, the Bobcats were forced into a tough, contested three-pointer. Sophomore guard
Aaron Miller corralled the rebound off the missed shot and proceeded to hit two free throws with eight seconds left clinch the 66-61 win for the Mountain Lions.
Miller finished with a team-high 18 points on 7-for-14 shooting. The Stephens City, Virginia native aided Concord from three-point range as he went 2-for-4. As a team, CU was 7-of-12 from behind the arc with senior guard
Mike Boyd connecting on a season-high three triples while junior guard
Rob Reed and Wade each sunk one three-point basket.
The 58.3-percent shooting from behind the arc for the Mountain Lions was the best of the season with at least 10 attempts. Coming into Thursday's game Boyd had only made six three-pointers all season.
Wade finished one rebound short of what would have been his fifth double-double of the season, which would have tied junior forward
Terry Hopewell for the team lead.
Junior forward
Taylor Smith gave CU's bench a boost by playing a season-high 26 minutes and collecting seven rebounds, all in the first half. Smith played an integral part in holding perhaps the best post player in the MEC, McGrew, to six first-half points on 2-for-7 shooting.
McGrew collected a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds to lead West Virginia Wesleyan.
The Mountain Lions held an edge on the boards (36-33), in assists (14-12) and points off turnovers (8-6).
Concord will host Notre Dame 4:00 p.m. Saturday at the Carter Center.
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