ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University men's basketball team was outlasted by Fairmont State 99-81 Thursday night in Mountain East Conference play at the Carter Center.
The number two nationally-ranked Fighting Falcons (12-0, 6-0 MEC) jumped out on Concord (5-7, 1-5 MEC) early as they scored 16 of the game's first 21 points over the first four minutes. The Mountain Lions would not be deterred as they used an 18-5 run to grab a 23-20 edge with 10:01 remaining in the half.
Senior guards
Aaron Miller and
Michael Sanchez fueled the run as Sanchez dropped in seven of his 17 points and Miller added five. Sophomore guard
Tommy Bolte, freshman forward
Patrick Eugene and senior forward
Stephen Thompson each added a bucket.
With the game deadlocked at 30-30 with 5:38 remaining in the half, Fairmont State went on a 20-9 run over the remainder of half to take an 11-point lead, 50-39, into the intermission.
Once again, CU would not be denied a chance to upset one of the best teams in the nation. The Mountain Lions chipped away at the double-digit deficit throughout the first 10 minutes of the second half as they worked the FSU lead to four points, 68-64, with 9:34 left after a layup by junior forward
Babe Murphy.
The Fighting Falcons reeled off the game's next 12 points to lead 80-64 with 5:56 remaining as they went on to win 99-81.
Miller scored a game-high 25 points and finished one point away from his season-high of 26. Sanchez was the only other CU player to notch double figures. Eugene finished a basket away from his first career double-double as he notched eight points and a game-best 11 rebounds.
Bolte added nine points off the bench.
Concord had a strong showing on the boards against a Fairmont State team that was outrebounding its opponents by nearly five boards a game (4.7) coming into Thursday. Concord used a good effort on the offensive glass to own a 42-32 advantage in total rebounds. Of CU's 42 rebounds, 19 came on the offensive end.
CU also had an impressive performance at the foul line as it made 18-of-20 attempts led by Miller's 10-for-11 showing.
The Mountain Lions continue their home stand 4:00 p.m. Sunday against Notre Dame College.
Â
