ATHENS, W.Va. – An offensive spurt and subsequent defensive lockdown midway through the first half propelled the Concord University men's basketball team to a 90-53 victory Wednesday night in non-conference action at the Carter Center.
With 11:37 remaining in the first half, CU (5-5) was leading 19-14 over the Blues (1-10). Over the next 6:37 of the game, the Mountain Lions turned a two-possession lead into a 39-17 lead with a 20-3 run.
The run was keyed by senior guard
Aaron Miller who had eight of his 19 points during the run. Freshman forward
Patrick Eugene chipped in four points while junior forward
Babe Murphy and senior guard
Cam Shannon each had three points and junior guard
B.J. Hamlet two points.
At the same time, Concord forced five BSC turnovers with steals coming from Miller, Shannon and senior guard
Michael Sanchez.
CU held a 48-24 lead at halftime.
Concord worked its lead up over 30 points, 65-34, after a Hamlet three-pointer at the 12:02 mark of the second half and led by as much 40 points, 90-50, as redshirt freshman guard
Colby Hill canned one of his two three-pointers with 1:11 left in the game.
Miller led three Mountain Lions in double figures with a game-high 19 points. Hamlet added 16 with four made three-pointers while junior forward
Troy Gibson had a career-high 12 points.
Eugene enjoyed a career-night on the glass as he grabbed 15 rebounds, six offensive, and became the first player to snare 15 or more rebounds in a game since
Terry Hopewell collected 19 against West Liberty in the MEC Tournament last season.
Murphy also went over 10 rebounds by recording 11 rebounds.
Overall, Concord had 22 offensive rebounds and 61 for the game. Along with Eugene's six boards on the offensive glass, Gibson (three), Murphy (two) and Shannon (three) each had multiple offensive rebounds.
The 61 rebounds in the fourth-most in a Division II game this season, and the most rebounds in a game for a Division II team playing a Division II opponent.
Concord handed out 18 assists for the game with sophomore guard
Tommy Bolte and Sanchez dishing out five. The Mountain Lions also tied their season high with 11 steals. Sanchez swiped four passes for the game.
CU resumes play with a Mountain East Conference contest versus Shepherd 7:30 p.m. January 3 at the Carter Center. Â
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