BLUEFIELD, W.Va. -Â The Concord University men's basketball team had a strong start to the second half as downed Bluefield State 84-68 Tuesday night in non-conference play at Ned Shot Gymnasium.
The first half was tightly contested as neither team led by more than four points over the first 18 minutes. Tied for the seventh and final time in the game, 32-32, at the 2:04 mark of the first half, Concord (2-1) outscored the Blues (1-1) 8-3 in the final two minutes of the first half to carry a 40-35 lead into halftime.
Senior guard
Tommy Bolte and junior guard
Jair Rodgers each had three points during the stretch to guide CU.
Overall, the first half had 11 lead changes and seven ties.
After Bluefield State scored the opening bucket of the second half, the Mountain Lions scored 10 straight points to open up a 50-37 lead at the 17:16 mark of the second half. Bolte scored the first six points of the run before Rodgers added the final four.
A basket by BSC at the 16:02 mark of the second half worked the deficit down under 10, 50-41, but it was the final time Concord saw its lead shrink below 10 after junior forward
Trey Brisco threw in a three-pointer on the following CU possession.
The Mountain Lions continued to add to their lead for the remainder of the game, and led by as much as 25 points, 70-45, after freshman guard
Brandon Kennedy knocked down a three-pointer with 9:50 left in the contest.
Bolte led all scorers with 31 points on 13-for-25 shooting. Rodgers added 18 points with 13 coming after halftime. Brisco tallied his second consecutive double-double by scoring 17 points and pulling down a career-best 13 rebounds. Seven of Brisco's rebounds came on the offensive end.
The Mountain Lions welcome Notre Dame to the Carter Center 4:00 p.m. for both the Mountain East Conference opener and home opener.
Prior to the game, CU will unveil in its 2016 MEC Championship banner.
Â
