CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Eight straight points from senior guard/forward
Malik Johnson over a span of 2:15 in the closing moments of the game helped propel Concord to a 64-62 over Charleston at the Wehrle Center in the Mountain East Conference opener for both teams Thursday night.
Down 58-55 with just under four minutes left, Johnson was fouled on a three-point attempt. The Wytheville, Virginia native stepped up to the line and hit all three foul shots to tie the game at 58. On the ensuing CU position, Johnson found himself in a bind on the left wing late in the shot clock, but got free to bank in a three-pointer from the same spot he was fouled on the previous trip.
Hanging onto a 61-60 edge with 1:34 remaining in the contest, Johnson was again fouled and converted two more free throws to push the lead to three. Now up one with 12 seconds left, sophomore guard
Ethan Heller hit on 1-of-2 foul shots. On the final possession of the game, the Mountain Lions thwarted an attempt by Charleston to send the game to overtime or win it at the buzzer.
Despite the slim victory, the Maroon and Gray controlled the first half and a portion of the second half before the Golden Eagles made a run to eventually take the lead.
CU led for nearly 16 minutes in the first half and held a 33-29 advantage at the break behind 11 first-half points from Heller on his way to an 18-point evening. After two free throws from senior forward
David Bea Mulumba at the 16:21 mark, CU had its largest second-half lead, 42-34. But the Golden Eagles chipped away, and eventually took a 49-47 lead seven minutes later.
The team traded baskets until UC led 56-53 and 58-55 at the 4:14 mark before Johnson's outburst.
Heller's 18 points were a game best. Johnson was just 3-of-10 from the field, but hit on all five free throws in the closing moments for 13 points. Mulumba notched his fifth career double-double with 12 points while tying his career high with 12 rebounds.
Mulumba, senior forward
Liam Evans (eight rebounds) and junior forward
Mohamed Bundu (six rebounds) helped CU control the glass with a 45-35 advantage.
The Mountain Lions also clamped down on Charleston and held it to 38.2 percent shooting (26-for-68) while CU was 40.4 percent from the floor (21-of-52).
Concord outscored UC 14-4 at the foul line and was 77.8 percent (14-for-18) at the charity stripe.
Concord welcomes West Virginia State to the Carter Center 4:00 p.m. Sunday.
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