ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University men's basketball team ran its winning streak to five games as they won 83-57 over Davis & Elkins in non-conference play Wednesday night at the Carter Center.
The Mountain Lions, the newly minted eighth-ranked team in the Division II Atlantic Region (19-8, 14-7 MEC) received a well-balanced scoring effort as all 12 players for CU scored in the game led by junior guard
Rob Reed with 19 points.
In the first half, CU was able to push its lead to as much as 17, 28-11, with 9:28 remaining in the half. However, Davis & Elkins (6-19, 2-10 GMAC) closed to within 34-25 at intermission.
As a team Concord only shot 29.3 percent (13-for-33) in the first half, but CU's defense locked down the Senators, holding them to 29.6 percent (8-for-27) in the first 20 minutes.
An 18-8 run in the middle stages of the second half allowed CU to coast to a 26-point win.
The scoring outburst was fueled by sharpshooters, sophomore guard
Aaron Miller (eight points) and Reed (eight) as they combined for 16 points during the run with senior guard
Paul Byrd adding two of his season-high 10 points during that time.
After building a 63-38 lead with 8:38 remaining in the contest, the Mountain Lions never let D&E get the deficit under 20 points for the remainder of the game en route to the 26-point win.
Miller and Reed led the onslaught of CU making a season-high 14 three-pointers as the tandem each hit four shots from behind the arc. It was the most the most three-pointers hit by Concord in a game since February 28, 2012 when they connected on 15 three-pointers against Ohio Valley.
After a perfect 4-for-4 performance from three-point range, Miller is now 11-for-15 in his last three games from behind the arc.
The Stephens City, Virginia native finished the game with 14 points to join Byrd and Reed in double figures.
Byrd put together arguably his best game of the season recording 10 points, matching a season high with six rebounds and dishing out season-best six assists.
Junior forward
Terry Hopewell had his eighth double-digit rebounding game of the season with 11 to lead all players in boards. As a team, CU outrebounded the Senators 44-39. Â Â
The Mountain Lions had 23 assists, one off their season best, on 30 made field goals.
Senior guard
Mike Boyd along with Byrd each had six while Hopewell, junior forward
Taylor Smith and Reed each had two assists.
Concord will finish the regular season 4:00 p.m. Saturday at UVa.-Wise. With a win, the Mountain Lions will lock up a top four spot in the upcoming Mountain East Conference Tournament.
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