ATHENS, W.Va. – Despite shooting 34 percent from the field, the Concord University men's basketball team snuffed out a late comeback attempt by Virginia Union Monday afternoon at the Carter Center.
The Mountain Lions extend their winning streak to five games and carry an 8-3 record into the Christmas break while VUU falls to 5-6.
Concord came out firing from three-point range as it nailed three shots from beyond the arc in the opening 20 minutes of play. Senior guard
B.J. Hamlet was responsible for six three-pointers and 24 points in the first half.
Though CU was knocking shots from distance, the Panthers stayed within striking distance until Concord rattled off a 13-5 run that span 2:42 near the end of the first half. Up 30-26 with 3:51 on the first half clock, the Mountain Lions used two three-pointers from Hamlet, a shot each from sophomore forward
Trey Brisco and freshman forward
Jyles Webster and three points by junior guard
Tommy Bolte to build a 43-31 lead and an eventual 43-33 halftime advantage.
Concord's lead would shrink to 48-45 with 15:23 left in the contest, but Brisco drilled a three-pointer to push the Mountain Lions' lead back to two possessions. And the CU advantage continued to grow until it hit a game-high 13 points, 62-49, with 10:07 left in the game after two Bolte free throws.
However, Virginia Union wasn't finished as it closed the deficit it faced to two points on six different occasions in the final five minutes, but each time the Mountain Lions had an answer.
Perhaps, the best chance for VUU to put the pressure on Concord was after a Hamlet turnover with the Panthers down four, 80-76. But, after the offensive miscue, Hamlet recovered to block a three-point attempt with 37 seconds remaining to help preserve a CU win.
Hamlet tied his career high with 28 points that he set earlier this season at Notre Dame.
Bolte matched Hamlet with 28 points and nearly recorded a triple-double as he grabbed nine rebounds and dished out seven assists. The nine rebounds tied a career best. Bolte finished the game 15-for-16 at the foul line.
Webster tied Bolte for the team high in rebounds with nine and also added seven points.
Concord sank 10 three-pointers in the contest and held VUU to 3-for-19 from deep or 16 percent, the fourth consecutive game it has held an opponent to under 30 percent shooting from three-point range.
The Mountain Lions play an exhibition with Akron 7:00 p.m. December 29.
CU resumes MEC play January 4 at Shepherd.
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