Concord's Season Ends in MEC Quarterfinals

WHEELING, W.Va. – The Concord University men's basketball team was defeated, 102-68, Friday afternoon in the Mountain East Conference Tournament Quarterfinal Round by West Liberty at WesBanco Arena.

The Mountain Lions (9-8) withstood an early WLU (14-3) spurt as it trailed 16-8 at the 14:20 mark of the first half. However, the next nine points belonged to Concord as senior guard/forward Malik Johnson scored five of the points, including a three-point to push CU ahead, 17-16, with 12:18 remaining in the first half.

Concord remained within striking distance of Division II's 19^th-ranked team as it trailed by just four points, 29-25, after freshman guard Jordan Wooden converted a layup. But the Hilltoppers scored the next 15 points and led 55-33 at halftime.

CU worked the deficit to 16 points two different times with the second coming after two foul shots by sophomore guard Ethan Heller at the 16:28 mark of the second half, but West Liberty quick extended the lead back to 20 points where it remained for the rest of the game.

Johnson finished with 18 points. Senior forward Liam Evans added 14 points. Both players tied for the team high with five rebounds. Heller netted 12 points.

Johnson finished this year's MEC Tournament with 47 points in two games, including the career-high 29 points he scored in the opening round game against Davis & Elkins.

The Mountain Lions made 17-of-21 free throws, but was unable to overcome a 50-percent shooting (39-for-78) afternoon by WLU.

With the NCAA's ruling on winter sport athletes receiving an extra year of eligibility, that was made during the fall semester, Evans, Johnson and senior forward David Bea Mulumba will return for a fifth season in the Maroon and Gray next year.