ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University men's basketball team could not overcome a furious Fairmont State run to close the game as it fell 88-87 Thursday night in Mountain East Conference action at the Carter Center.
After two free throws from senior forward
Jametrius Wade with 4:42 left in the game, CU (13-6, 8-5 MEC) took a 79-68 lead. FSU (18-1, 12-1 MEC) scored 10 of the next 11 points to trim the CU lead to 80-78 with 3:14 remaining.
A layup by Wade and two foul shots from junior
Michael Sanchez was answered with back-to-back three-pointers by the Fighting Falcons to draw the game at 84-84 a piece with 2:16 remaining.
Wade added another foul shot before Fairmont State's Matt Bingaya and senior guard
Rob Reed traded baskets, giving Concord a 87-86 edge with 25 seconds left. However, FSU's Jason Jolly converted a layup with 12 seconds remaining.
Reed missed a three-pointer that would have given Concord a lead with six seconds left. However, two missed free throws by Bingaya gave the Mountain Lions one last chance with 1.2 seconds remaining. Sanchez took the ball off the inbound, but his half-court prayer was not answered as Concord fell 88-87.
Facing tight full-court press all game, CU tied its season-low in turnovers with seven and handed out 15 assists on 31 made shots. The Mountain Lions managed to shot 50 percent from the field (31-for-62).
Senior forward
Terry Hopewell finished with ninth double-double of the season by scoring 15 points and collecting 13 rebounds. Sanchez finished two points off his career-high by scoring 17 points while Wade recorded 17 points and seven rebounds.
All five CU starters were in double figures as Reed scored 16 and junior guard
Aaron Miller finished with 14 points.
The Mountain Lions look to rebound from Thursday's heartbreaking loss as they welcome in Shepherd 4:00 p.m. Saturday at the Carter Center.
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