Concord Clamps Down on Bluefield State, 70-59

BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – Led by stifling defense, the Concord University men's basketball team pulled away from rival Bluefield State Monday night at the Ned Shott Gymnasium for a 70-59 win.

Trailing by three points, 56-53, with 7:11 left in the game, Concord (11-9) held Bluefield State (7-11) without a field goal over the final seven minutes. While the defense was keeping BSC at bay, the Mountain Lions went on a 10-0 run to gain separation from BSC.

Sophomore forward Trey Brisco started the run with two free throws. Senior guard B.J. Hamlet hit two three-pointers on back-to-back possessions right before the final media timeout of the game, and junior guard Tommy Bolte closed the run with two more free throws.

With 4:35 left in the contest, the Mountain Lions held a 63-56 edge.

The Blues were able to make three foul shots to close within 63-59 with 2:59 remaining, but CU clamped down on Bluefield State and held it scoreless for the final three minutes. Offensively, Bolte scored the final seven for the Mountain Lions as they pulled away for an 11-point non-conference win.  

Until Bolte's jumper with 56 seconds left in the contest, neither team led by more than two possessions over the first 39 minutes of the game.

The game featured four ties and 10 total lead changes with Bluefield State holding a narrow 32-31 lead at halftime. The Mountain Lions were able to close the first half on an 8-3 run after facing its largest deficit of the game with 4:22 remaining in the opening half.

Bolte finished with a game-high 27 points to go along with nine rebounds, four assists and four steals.

Brisco collected his second career double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds

Hamlet added 14 points while freshman forward Antonio Patterson scored eight of his 11 points in the first half to finish in double figures for the contest.

Despite only scoring two points, freshman guard Darian Peterson grabbed seven rebounds to help CU own a decisive 49-36 advantage in rebounding.

The Mountain Lions limited Bluefield State to just 10 points in the paint and blocked five shots in the contest.

Concord resumes Mountain East Conference play 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Wheeling Jesuit.