ATHENS, W.Va. – Fueled by 36 points from senior
Rob Reed and a season-high 60.7 percent shooting from the field, the Concord University men's basketball team upset  number-one ranked West Liberty Monday night at the Carter Center.
The Mountain Lions improve to 11-5 overall and 6-4 in the Mountain East Conference while CU gives the Hilltoppers (15-1, 9-1 MEC) their first loss of the season.
Over the first minutes of the game, Concord and WLU traded baskets with CU taking an 11-10 lead with 15:53 left in the first half. The Mountain Lions proceeded to go on a 20-8 run that spanned nearly six minutes.
Six CU players scored during the run with Reed leading the way with five points. With 9:15 left in the first half, Concord led 31-18. Â
However, WLU outscored the Maroon and Gray 29-11 over the remainder of the first half to grab a 47-42 lead at halftime. The Hilltoppers took their largest lead of the game, 54-44, at the 18:07 mark of the first half.
Just like the first half, Concord went on another long run, this outscoring West Liberty 26-8 for a seven-minute stretch. Reed sparked the run by scoring 15 of his 36 points in the outburst. Junior guard
Aaron Miller chipped in seven points during the run as well.
Concord held off a West Liberty charge until the Hilltoppers were able to draw within four points at the 4:59 mark. But, a layup by senior forward
Terry Hopewell and a monster dunk by Reed over WLU's Dave Dennis gave CU the momentum it needed down the stretch. After Reed's dunk and subsequent free throw, the Mountain Lions led 91-82 with 4:18 remaining.
Despite some early misses at the charity stripe, CU converted all nine foul shots over the final 3:18 to seal the win over the previously undefeated Hilltoppers.
Even though Reed scored 36 points, just four points off his career-high, while shooting 13-for-19 from the field and 6-for-11 from the field, Concord got a well-balanced scoring effort. Junior guard
Michael Sanchez notched his first career double-double by scoring 14 points and adding a career-high 10 assists.
Miller added 21 points including 18 in the second half. Hopewell also recorded a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds. Meanwhile, senior forward
Jametrius Wade added 15 points and seven rebounds.
For head coach
Kent McBride, it was his 72nd coaching win at Concord which moved him into fifth place on the all-time list at CU.
A big key in Concord's win was the Mountain Lions' holding West Liberty to a season-low 39.1 percent shooting. Previously, the Hilltoppers had shot at least 40 percent from the field in each game.
CU travels to UVa.-Wise 7:30 p.m. Thursday before starting a three-game home stand against West Virginia State.
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