GLENVILLE, W.Va. – The Concord University men's basketball team erased a first-half deficit and held off Glenville State in the second half to earn its fourth-straight win of the season with a 101-97 win over the Pioneers Wednesday night in Mountain East Conference action at the Waco Center.
GSC (5-3, 2-3 MEC) jumped out to a 17-7 lead four minutes into the game and continued to hold a double-digit advantage on Concord (6-2, 4-1 MEC), 33-23, with 9:16 remaining in first half. However, the Mountain Lions controlled the final nine minutes to hold a 49-45 lead at halftime.
CU finished the first half on a 26-12 run. Senior guard
Tommy Bolte and junior guard
Jair Rodgers combined for six three-pointers during the run as Rodgers also added an old-school, three-point play in the middle of the spurt. Over the final nine minutes of the first half, Concord held the Pioneers to 33 percent shooting with nine of 12 attempts coming from three-point range.
The Mountain Lions worked their lead up to 10 points in the second half after sophomore forward
David Bea Mulumba connected on consecutive three-pointers to give CU a 57-47 lead with 18:09 remaining. CU's lead would hold until GSC took a 71-70 edge with 11:21 on the clock. The next nine minutes produced four ties and six lead changes.
Tied at 91-91 with 2:38 left in the contest, Rodgers glided down the left side of the lane and converted a layup to give CU a lead it would not relinquish. On the next Glenville State possession, Concord forced a turnover and started a trek to the foul line where it cashed in on 8-of-10 free throws to seal the win.
Bolte finished the game with a season-high 39 points as he hit a season-best five three-pointers. The Chillicothe, Ohio native added seven rebounds and five assists.
Rodgers netted 25 points with four three-pointers. Junior forward
Trey Brisco went for 16 points.
Sophomore guard/forward
Malik Johnson recorded his first career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds as all 10 rebounds came on the defensive end.
The Mountain Lions step away from MEC play this weekend when it faces California (Pa.) and Salem at the Joe Manchin Classic in Salem, West Virginia Saturday and Sunday.
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