Box Score ATHENS, W.Va. – A three-pointer by West Virginia Wesleyan's Garrett Grantham with 21 seconds left in triple overtime was the deciding factor in Saturday's Mountain East Conference contest as Concord fell 90-89 to the Bobcats at the Carter Center.
Saturday's game was the first triple overtime game for the Mountain Lions (7-1, 3-1 MEC) since the 2007-08 season.
Concord led throughout the whole first half and the game was tied just twice in the first half. However, CU's biggest lead was only 10 in the first 20 minutes. The game remained tight in the second half with both teams trading baskets.
Two fouls shots by senior forward
Terry Hopewell put CU up by five, 64-59, with 1:10 left in the contests, but West Virginia Wesleyan (6-2, 3-1 MEC) scored the final five points of regulation to send the game to overtime.
After junior guard
Aaron Miller converted a layup with 26 seconds left in the first overtime, CU needed to foul still down one, but
Jametrius Wade punched the ball out from behind, and senior guard
Rob Reed pounced on the loose ball to find junior guard
Michael Sanchez on the right wing for a three-pointer putting the Mountain Lions up 74-72. But, WVWC's Mo Berchie sent the game to a second overtime with a layup.
In the second overtime, senior forward
Jametrius Wade put CU up 84-83 with a go-ahead layup with 53 seconds left and Miller made a two-point game with a free throw with 18 seconds left. Once again, the Bobcats had an answer as Grantham drove in for a layup with two seconds left in the second extra session.
Scoring was at a premium in the third overtime as West Virginia Wesleyan scored first, and Concord answered with 2:03 remaining. After CU's basket, the teams traded possessions before an offensive rebound gave Grantham a second chance and the eventual game-winner.
However, Concord wasn't done. Miller drove in for a layup to cut it to a 90-89 deficit. After WVWC's Tanner McGrew missed the front end of a 1-and-1 situation, Reed grabbed the miss and flew down the floor where a game-winner came up short.
The game was a battle of big men as Hopewell and McGrew battled each other all day. Hopewell finished the game with 19 points and 15 rebounds, his second-straight double-double and fifth consecutive 10-rebound game. Meanwhile, McGrew had 27 points and 24 rebounds.
Also for Concord, Wade finished with 24 points, tying his career-high, and 12 rebounds. Reed tallied 18 points while Miller finished 11 points.
In addition to his points and rebounds, Hopewell notched four blocks, a season-high. Sanchez finished with eight points and eight assists.
West Virginia Wesleyan held an advantage over CU on the glass (43-40) and also in field-goal percentage (48.6-44.4)
Concord will step out of MEC play for its next two games beginning at Davis & Elkins Dec. 14 at 7:00 p.m.
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