URBANA, Ohio – The Concord University men's basketball team made 18 three-pointers as it cruised past Urbana 105-79 in a Mountain East Conference game at the Grimes Center Saturday afternoon.
Junior guard
Jair Rodgers set the early pace for Concord (17-9, 12-8 MEC) as he made five triples in the first 3:56 of the game to give the Mountain Lions a 17-10 lead at the 16:04 mark.
Despite the fast start from three-point range, CU was unable to run away from Urbana (5-20, 3-17 MEC) until senior guard
Tommy Bolte hit one of his four three-pointers at the 5:00 mark of the first half to put the Mountain Lions up 38-28. Concord held onto a double-digit lead for the remainder of the game.
Up 50-38 at halftime, CU started the second half on a 9-0 run that ended with a layup from senior forward
Jafar Musa. The Blue Knights were able to cut Concord's lead under 20 points just twice over the remaining 17 minutes of the game.
The 18 three-pointers by Concord tied the most under head coach
Todd May. CU also had 18 three-pointers in May's CU coaching debut on November 11, 2016 at home against Fayetteville State. Overall, the Mountain Lions were 18-for-35 from three-point distance (51.3 percent).
Rodgers tied his career best in three-pointers as he connected on eight triples in 12 tries. The South Bench, Indiana native finished the game with 31 points. Freshman guard
Brandon Kennedy came off the bench to score 14 of his career-high 18 points in the second half as he shot 5-for-10 from three-point range.
Bolte matched Kennedy's 18 points. Musa was a perfect 5-for-5 from the field as he netted double-figure points for the first time this season with 10 points.
Junior forward
Simun Kovac added a double-double of 10 points and 18 boards—the most rebounds for a CU player in nearly three seasons.
Concord wraps up the home slate as West Virginia State visits Athens 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Bolte and Musa will be recognized prior to the game in their final appearance at the Carter Center.
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