Concord Downs West Virginia State in Critical Road Win, 95-91

INSTITUTE, W.Va.  – Junior guard Tommy Bolte matched the single-game Mountain East Conference scoring record by pouring in 49 points in a 95-91 road win against West Virginia State Wednesday night at the Walker Convocation Center.

The game featured 11 lead changes with 10 coming after halftime.

After a Bolte layup with 3:12 remaining in the contest, CU (15-12, 11-10 MEC) took an 87-86 lead. However, West Virginia State (12-14, 10-11 MEC) took back the advantage with a three-pointer on its ensuing possession.

CU was still down 91-88 with 1:36 left after a WVSU stickback on the offensive glass. Bolte cut the Yellow Jackets' edge with 1:25 left after a foul shot. Thirty seconds later, junior forward Jafar Musa picked up one of his career-best nine rebounds and ran the floor where Bolte found the big man to tie the game up at 91-91.

Each team missed a shot on its next possessions before Bolte collected a steal and made two free throws to push the Mountain Lions in front 93-91 with 33 second remaining. Concord continued its late defensive effort as it forced another West Virginia State miss. This time, freshman forward Darian Peterson ripped down the rebound and found Bolte where the Chillicothe, Ohio natve sealed the game with two more makes the charity stripe with 17 seconds remaining.

The Mountain Lions led by as much as 10 points in the first half, 38-28, before carrying a 42-36 lead into halftime. WVSU made a surge to the second half and led by as much as five, 54-49, as it started the second half on an 18-7 run over the first 4:33.

Bolte was 14-for-27 from the field, 4-for-8 from the three-point line and 13-for-14 from the free-throw line in the record-tying performance. Additionally, it was the second-highest scoring game in NCAA Division II this season.  

Bolte also had seven rebounds and six assists.

Senior guard B.J. Hamlet added 14 points while sophomore forward Trey Brisco tallied 11 points and a career-best three blocks.

Musa added seven points to go along with nine boards. Peterson made all three of his three-point attempts as he just missed a double-double of nine points and eight rebounds.

CU concludes the regular season 4:00 p.m. Saturday when it welcomes UVa.-Wise to the Carter Center.