ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University men's basketball team held off a second-half rally from Wheeling Jesuit as they downed the Cardinals 84-80 Monday night at the Carter Center in Mountain East Conference play.
After holding a double-digit lead of 59-49 with 15:36 left to play in the game, Concord (7-4, 3-3 MEC) outscored Wheeling Jesuit (6-5, 2-4 MEC) 12-5 over the last 4:57 of the game.
The first 10 minutes of the game featured both teams trading baskets with six lead changes and four ties. Wheeling Jesuit held a slim 20-19 advantage with 10:20 left in the first half. CU's early offensive attack was led by sophomore guard
Aaron Miller who scored the first nine Mountain Lion points of the game.
CU and WJU continued to trade scores until Concord outscored the Cardinals 20-12 over the final 6:49 of the first half to take a 45-36 lead into the half.
Concord maintained its lead in the second half including the aforementioned double-digit lead. With 15:49 and trailing by 10 points, Wheeling Jesuit went on a 15-5 run that span nearly six minutes to tie the game at 64-64 with 10:16 remaining.
Over the final 10 minutes, the game had five lead changes and five ties. The contest turned in Concord's favor when Miller nailed a three-point attempt to put CU up 79-75 with 3:06 remaining. Even though the Cardinals trimmed the lead to one point the following possession, the Mountain Lions held WJU without a point for the next 1:15.
In that span, Concord got a block from junior forward
Terry Hopewell and a clutch foul line jump shot from sophomore guard
B.J. Hamlet to put CU up 81-78 with 1:16 left. The Maroon and Gray was able to convert 3-of-4 foul shots in the closing minute to secure the four-point win.
The Mountain Lions also got an important defensive stand on Wheeling Jesuit's final possession as they were hanging onto a one-point lead.
After a 26-point, eight rebound performance against West Liberty, Hopewell finished his night with 16 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. Miller had arguably his best shooting game as a Concord player as he poured in 25 points on 8-for-12 shooting from the field and 6-for-7 from three-point range. The Stephens City, Virginia native set a career-high in made three-pointers.
Senior guard
Mike Boyd equaled his personal best of 11 assists while only committing two turnovers. Over his last five games, Boyd has 37 assists.
Hamlet registered 18 points for the second straight game and junior forward
Jametrius Wade had 11 points and eight rebounds.
The Mountain Lions will play one of its two road games during January when it travels to Charleston 7:30 p.m. Thursday night.
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