CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Junior guard
Tommy Bolte returned from a three-game injury absence and propelled the Concord University men's basketball team to a 77-72 win against the University of Charleston in Mountain East Conference action at the Wehrle Center.
Down 60-50 with 8:35 remaining in the game, Bolte and the Mountain Lions (4-3, 2-1 MEC) spurred a run following a technical foul. UC (4-3, 1-2 MEC) knocked down 1-of-2 free throws on the technical free throws, but the next 12 points belonged to Concord as it took a 62-61 lead on a Bolte three-pointer. UC returned the favor with a three of its own. However, Bolte answered that bell as he softly hit a three-pointer that kissed off the front of the rim prior to going in.
Concord never trailed after the triple from the Chillicothe, Ohio native at the 3:59 mark of the game. The entire run was 18-4 and span 3:15 of game with CU up 68-64. Bolte started the run with 10 points, and when he buried the third of three consecutive triples he had 23 points for the contest. Senior guard
B.J. Hamlet added a fourth three-pointer during the run.
The Golden Eagles were able to get within one of Concord twice in the final 1:34 of the game, but Bolte converted shots around the rim to keep CU in front by three points in each instance.
Bolte finished the game with 30 points, playing just 22 minutes in his return to the lineup.
Hamlet added 16 points including two foul shots to seal the win with a second left in the contest. Freshman forward
Antonio Patterson came off the bench to score a career-high 11 points. Patterson knocked down three three-pointers in the first half as part of his 11 points.
The Mountain Lions nailed 12 three-pointers in the game with Bolte leading the way. Hamlet and Patterson each had three and freshman guard
Malik Johnson added two.
Sophomore forward
Trey Brisco and freshman forward
Jyles Webster each had six rebounds with Brisco also scoring seven points.
CU hosts West Virginia State 4:00 p.m. Saturday in a MEC contest.
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