ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University men's basketball team held West Virginia Wesleyan to less than 35 percent shooting in the second half as it earned a 70-58 win—its seventh straight victory—Saturday afternoon in Mountain East Conference play at the Carter Center.
Both teams shot the ball well in the first half as CU (9-2, 5-1 MEC) connected on 53.3 percent (16-for-30) of its shots while Wesleyan (4-6, 2-4 MEC) was 14-for-26 (53.8 percent) over the first 20 minutes.
Junior guard
Jair Rodgers was a big difference for the Mountain Lions in the first half as he tallied 22 points and hit six three-pointers. The three-point stroke from Rodgers helped Concord to a 46-36 lead at halftime.
Out of the locker room, CU began locking down the Bobcats. Wesleyan was able to cut the Concord lead from 10, 54-44, to five points, 54-49, with 12:05 left in the game. From there, the Maroon and Gray held WVWC without a point for the next 3:47 of the game.
From the 12:05 mark of the second half to the 7:15 mark of the game, the Mountain Lions went on a 10-2 run that end with senior guard
Tommy Bolte converting a layup. Junior forward
Trey Brisco and freshman guard
Brandon Kennedy each hit a three-pointer during the elongated run as well.
With Concord up 13, Wesleyan was only able to cut the deficit under 10 once more in the game.
Rodgers finished the game with 28 points as he buried eight three-pointers—the second time this season he has hit eight three-pointers in a game. Bolte added 12 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals.
Sophomore guard/forward
Malik Johnson flirted with a double-double with nine points and seven rebounds.
For the game, Wesleyan was held to 43.4 percent shooting and 33.3 percent in the second half.
The seven-game win streak for the Mountain Lions match their win streak from three years ago when they ran off seven straight wins to start the 2015-16 season.
Concord has a long layoff from games as it plays Shepherd at home January 10 after Christmas Break.
