ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University men's basketball team was unable to hang onto to a 38-36 halftime lead as West Virginia State came back to win 89-74 Sunday afternoon in a Mountain East Conference game at the Carter Center.
The teams traded baskets over the early portion of the second half, and Concord (1-1, 1-1 MEC) took a 50-46 lead with 15:03 left after junior forward
Da'Vion Moore scored two of 12 points in the game.
On the ensuing West Virginia State (1-1, 1-1 MEC) possession, the Yellow Jacket's Jeremiah Moore converted an old-school three-point play that kick started a 20-7 run that allowed WVSU to take a 66-57 lead with 8:39 remaining.
Once again, the teams traded buckets as Concord was able to get within nine points five more times, but never any closer as WVSU pulled away for the win.
The first half featured seven ties and seven lead changes as the Yellow Jackets led for a large portion of the opening 20 minutes, but it was CU that finished the first half on a 6-0 run to carry the two-point advantage into the locker room.
Senior guard/forward
Malik Johnson recorded a career-best 23 points on 6-of-11 shooting and converting 10-of-15 foul shots. The Wytheville, Virginia native was fouled 11 times during the contest.
Senior forward
David Bea Mulumba matched his opening night total of 12 points while Moore equaled Mulumba's total on 6-of-7 shooting. Sophomore guard
Ethan Heller added eight points and a career-best seven assists.
Junior guard
Seth Brown just missed double figures, but matched his career high with nine points.
The teams were nearly identical in shooting percentage with Concord finishing at 47.3 (26-for-55) to WVSU's 47.5 (29-for-61).
Concord plays host to West Virginia Wesleyan 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Carter Center.
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