Concord Storms Back to Defeat Notre Dame, 73-68, Advances to MEC Quarterfinals

WHEELING, W.Va. – The Concord University men's basketball team rallied from a nine-point halftime deficit as it downed Notre Dame in the Opening Round of the Mountain East Conference Tournament Wednesday night inside WesBanco Arena, 73-68.

The Mountain Lions (12-17) trailed by double digits in the first half, and had to still chip away at an NDC lead of 11 points, 38-27, with 18:29 remaining in the game. Concord fired off a 13-5 spurt to work the deficit to three points, 43-40, with 12 minutes left.

Still fending off a CU attempt at the lead, Notre Dame held a 55-50 edge with 6:43 left. However, 11 of the next 15 points belonged to the Mountain Lions as they went up 61-59 after a three-point play from junior guard/forward Malik Johnson with 4:109 remaining.

Going back to when the score was 53-46, senior guard Trey Brisco led the charge for Concord by scoring 12 of the 13 CU points before the Johnson three-point play.

Johnson hit a foul line jumper with 2:16 remaining in the game to give the Maroon and Gray at least a two-possession lead for the remainder of the game.

The Mountain Lions had to overcome a slow start shooting as it shot just 26.7 percent in the first half, and was down 33-24 at halftime. To offset the low shooting, CU forced 12 first-half turnovers from the Falcons –and scored eight first-half points off the turnovers—to the game within reach.

For the game, Concord caused 18 Notre Dame turnovers and scored 12 points off the miscues.

After a cold first half, CU rattled in 50 percent of its attempts (15-of-30) in the second half while holding the Falcons to 40.6 percent (13-for-32) in the second half.

Aided by his strong second half, Brisco finished the game with 27 points and eight rebounds with 23 of his points coming after halftime.

Senior guard Martin Kelly Jr. and junior forward David Bea Mulumba each scored 10 points, including Mulumba hitting a clutch three-pointer with under two minutes to go to put Concord up 66-59. Kelly Jr. added nine rebounds.

The Mountain Lions advance to Friday's MEC Quarterfinal Round as it will face top-seeded West Liberty 6:00 p.m. Friday.