SALEM, W.Va. – The Concord University men's basketball team led wire-to-wire in its 80-63 victory over California (Pa.) Saturday evening in the first game of the Joe Manchin Classic inside Davis Gymnasium.
The game's only tie was at 2-2, but CU (7-2) could not pull away from the Vulcans (1-6) early in the game as Concord held a 17-12 lead nine minutes into the game. However, the Mountain Lions outscored Cal 11-3 over the next five minutes of the game that was capped by a three-pointer from junior guard
Jair Rodgers.
The advantage for Concord ballooned to as much as 17 points in the first half after a three-pointer from senior guard
Tommy Bolte that gave CU a 35-18 lead with 1:06 remaining in the first half. And the Maroon and Gray carried a 35-21 lead into halftime.
Cal cut Concord's lead down to 10, 38-28 with 18:15 left, but over the next 3:25 CU went on a 12-2 run to take a 50-30 edge. Bolte scored five of the points while Rodgers once again ended the spurt with a three-pointer.
The Mountain Lions swelled the lead to as much as 24 points, 64-40, after one of Bolte's five three-pointers at the 9:22 mark. Cal was able to get within 70-58 of Concord before the final margin of victory, 80-63.
CU held the Vulcans to 27 percent shooting (9-for-33) in the first half while also allowing a season-high 63 points. Meanwhile, the Mountain Lions shot 50 percent from the floor (30-for-60) as it tallied a 50-percent shooting mark in each half.
With five three-pointers, Bolte topped all scorers with 22 points to go along with seven rebounds and seven assists. Rodgers added 19 points and five of his own three-pointers.
Junior forward
Simun Kovac just missed a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds. Fellow junior forward
Trey Brisco did a little bit of everything for Concord as he scored five points, grabbed four rebounds, handed out a career-best eight assists and came away with three steals.
The Mountain Lions assisted on 21 of 30 made field goals in the game.
Concord plays tournament host Salem 7:00 p.m. Sunday.
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