Concord Stats -
Wheeling Jesuit Stats -
West Liberty Stats -
Live Audio -
Live Stats -
Live Video -
Complete Game Notes
ATHENS, W.Va. - The Concord University men's basketball team prepares for two home games when it faces Wheeling Jesuit 7:30 p.m. Thursday followed by a showdown with nationally-ranked West Liberty 3:00 p.m. Saturday at the Carter Center.
LIVE COVERAGE
Audio: Jason Reed and
Steve Cox will have live radio play-by-play coverage of both home games. The game can be heard on 94.5 "Willie" FM and online at www.mywillie.com
Stats: The Concord University Sports Information Department provides live in-game statistics.
Video: Live streaming video will be available courtesy of Concord Sports Information.
RECORS
CU starts the week with a record of 14-6 overall and is 9-5 versus Mountain East Conference foes.
Wheeling Jesuit is fresh off a win over Shepherd that improved its record to 3-17 overall and 2-12 in the MEC.
West Liberty is ranked fifth in the NABC Division II Coaches Poll with a 17-2 record while sporting a 13-1 record in the conference.
CLOSE CALLS
The Mountain Lions continued their run of tightly-contested games last week as they defeated Glenville State 93-90 before falling 66-65 at West Virginia Wesleyan. Concord has now played six straight games where the final score has been decided by three points or less. CU is 4-2 in those six games which began with a 109-108 double overtime loss at WLU. Over the last six games, the Maroon and Gray has endured 58 lead changes and 46 ties. Each contest has featured at least six ties and lead changes with the exception of the Glenville State contest.
HANDLE WITH CARE
In the two games versus GSC and Wesleyan, Concord had just 13 combined turnovers including a tying a season low with six turnovers versus Glenville State. It was the first time since February 21-March 2 of last season that CU had two or more consecutive games with fewer than 10 turnovers. Because Concord has been limiting turnovers, it has held the opponent to 11 or fewer points off turnovers in four of the last five games. However, West Liberty thrives on turning the opposition over as it averages 7.6 steals per contest.
ONE MAN CREW
Sophomore guard/forward
Malik Johnson hit double figures in both MEC games for Concord last week as he poured in 15 points and added a career-best three steals versus Glenville State. On the road, Johnson tallied 11 points—marking the 10
th time this season he has reached double figures despite not starting in any of his 19 games played. His 9.3 points per game is third on CU's roster, and trails only West Liberty's Marlon Moore (9.8 points per game) for scoring average by an MEC player to have not started a game this season.
THE START OF SOMETHING
In Concord's 88-68 win over Wheeling Jesuit January 17, sophomore forward
David Bea Mulumba scored 20 points on 6-for-9 shooting—all six field goals came from three-point range—while also grabbing 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. Two days later, Mulumba scored a career-best 21 points and made four more three-pointers in CU's double overtime loss against West Liberty. Over the last seven games, Mulumba is averaging 11.4 points while shooting 51.2 percent (20-for-39) from three-point range. Junior guard
Jair Rodgers also has also seen a spike in his numbers since his 26-point performance at Wheeling Jesuit. In his last seven games, Rodgers is scoring 20.7 points per game that includes five 20-point performances. Rodgers is currently tied for first in Division II in made three-pointers per game (4.1). Also at Wheeling Jesuit, freshman guard
Brandon Kennedy had a career-best 14 points and followed it up with eight points at WLU—his best two-game stretch in his early career.
BRING ON THE CLOSER
After a season-low eight points in the road victory at Wheeling Jesuit, senior guard
Tommy Bolte exploded for 41 points with 26 of those coming after halftime. Including that game, Bolte is averaging 22.1 points in the second halves of games in the last six contests. In the final three minutes and overtime, the scoring output only drops to 17.3 points per game. Bolte starts the week with 1,823 career points. By scoring 17 points at WVWC, the Chillicothe, Ohio native passed Sterling Tate for seventh on the all-time scoring list at CU. Next on the list is Don Mikush who scored 1,862 points.
SCORCHING THE NETS
Dating back to the start of the 2015-16 season, Concord has been able to shoot 45 percent or better from the field in six of seven regular-season games against West Liberty. Additionally, Concord has made 12 or more three-pointers in five games as well. However, CU has only come out a winner in two of those seven games—a 107-104 home win in February 2017 and a 108-93 Carter Center victory in January 2016. This season, the Mountain Lions are 9-1 when they shoot 45 percent or better from the field, but the one loss was at West Liberty.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
17- Three-pointers by CU in its victory over Wheeling Jesuit earlier this season, a season best.
21- Lead changes between Concord and West Liberty when the teams played at WLU January 19.
89.4- Free throw percentage on the season for both Bolte and Rodgers.
WHEELING JESUIT AT A GLANCE
WJU picked up its second MEC win by defeating Shepherd 78-72 on Saturday. In the contest, the Cardinals shot 56.9 percent from the field and held SU to 42.9 percent shooting—just the third time this season Wheeling Jesuit has held an opponent under 45 percent. Franck Kamgain leads five Cardinals in double figures with 13.3 points per game. Kamgain is the only WJU player to start in all 20 games this season.
WEST LIBERTY AT A GLANCE
Dalton Bolon is the leading scorer for the Hilltoppers this season as he ranks fifth in the MEC at 21.6 points per game. West Liberty, who faces UVa.-Wise on Thursday, has won 10 straight games since a December loss at Fairmont State. The Hilltoppers lead Division II in scoring at 104.1 points per game. MEC Freshman of the Year candidate Will Yoakum is scoring 14.3 points per game, and veteran forward Eric Meininger averages 13.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per contest.
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