Concord Readies for Matchups with West Virginia Wesleyan, Davis & Elkins

Concord Stats - West Virginia Wesleyan Stats - Davis & Elkins Stats - Live Stats - Live Video - Complete Game Notes

ATHENS, W.Va. - The Concord University men's basketball team continues its home stand when it welcomes West Virginia Wesleyan 7:30 p.m. Wednesday before taking to the road to take on Davis & Elkins in two Mountain East Conference games.

LIVE COVERAGE
Stats: Live in-game statistics will be available this week from the Concord and Davis & Elkins Sports Information Departments. 
Video: Lives streaming will also be provided for the contests involving the Mountain Lions. 

RECORDS
Concord starts the week with a mark of 5-8 overall and 3-5 versus league competition.

West Virginia Wesleyan is 1-13 on the year and looking for its first MEC win at 0-8.

Davis & Elkins is 4-8 on the year and sports a conference record of 2-5.

THREE-POINT THREATS
The Mountain Lions buried 14 three-pointers against Wheeling and shot 42.4 percent from three-point range (14-of-33). It was the second-most triples of the season for CU after hitting 16 in the season-opener versus Pitt-Johnstown. Fifth-year senior guard Matt Weir led the barrage with four three-pointers. The Nashport, Ohio native is now tied for second in the MEC in three-pointers per game (2.8) and third in three-point percentage (.411). Junior guard Ethan Heller and fifth-year senior forward Lual Daniel Rahama each had two triples in the contest, and junior forward Jevon Laidler made just his fifth three-pointer of the season as part of his career-best 22 points in the victory over the Cardinals. Senior guard Brandon Kennedy has made 16 three-pointers in his last four games against West Virginia Wesleyan, including a career-best seven two years at the Carter Center. Kennedy also rained in three triples in his first career start that came January 15, 2020 at WVWC.

PASSING THE BALL
Concord registered 19 assists on 35 made field goals versus Wheeling as Weir dished out a team-best six assists in the victory while Kennedy and Rahama each had three assists in the victory. The 19 assists are the most over the last seven games and the second-most at home this season, only the 23 assists versus Bluefield State rank higher. Along with his shooting prowess, Weir is third in the conference in assists per game with 4.6. Meanwhile, Heller is 15^th in the MEC in assists per game with 2.8. In two games against Davis & Elkins last season, the Thornville, Ohio native averaged 5.5 per game. In his lone game versus West Virginia Wesleyan, Heller had 17 points and three assists as he knocked down 8-of-8 free throws in a 77-66 road win for the Mountain Lions.

TRENDING UP
CU took advantage of a Wheeling defense that was allowing opponents to shoot 47 percent on the season as Concord shot a season-best 52.2 percent from the floor. The Mountain Lions shot better than 50 percent in each half versus the Cardinals. Along with the success from three-point range, Concord scored 42 of its 92 points in the paint. It marked the first time since an overtime win over West Virginia State November 29 that the Mountain Lions had gotten 40 or more points in the paint. Concord seeks to take advantage of Davis & Elkins and West Virginia Wesleyan defenses that allow opponents to hit a high mark of shots. D&E is ninth in the MEC in field-goal defense (47.6) while West Virginia Wesleyan gives up 51 percent shooting to the opponent this season, 11^th in the league. In the two wins over D&E last season, Concord shot better than 50 percent both times.

INSTANT CLASSICS
Speaking of those two wins over D&E from a season ago, both contests did not disappoint. Heller was the pacer in both games as he averaged 26.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists versus the Senators. Additionally, he knocked down nine three-pointers across two games after missing the contest at Davis & Elkins early in the season. CU needed a single overtime to defeat the Senators, 87-82, at the Carter Center. Heller paced the effort with 25 points on 11-of-19 shooting. In the opening round of the MEC Tournament, he added another 28 points with six triples as Concord needed double overtime to knock off the Senators, 107-102. Kennedy averaged 10.3 points per game last season versus D&E. Concord hit 21 three-pointers in two games at the Carter Center last season against Davis & Elkins, but only rang in three triples in a 67-56 January loss.

KEEPING IT ROLLING
The Mountain Lions will be seeking their fourth consecutive home win over West Virginia Wesleyan Wednesday. Last season, Concord held off a late WVWC charge to win 73-69 in the third game of the season. Kennedy hit on 3-of-5 three-point attempts and netted 13 points. Two years ago, it was also Kennedy's night to shine. The Chillicothe, Ohio native connected on the aforementioned seven three-pointers and went for a career-best 22 points in a 98-83 victory. Overall, CU made 15 three-pointers versus WVWC in February 2020. By winning four of the last six matchups overall, the Mountain Lions have closed the all-time series gap to 36-33 in favor of the Bobcats. Last year was the first time either team swept the season series since CU picked up two wins during the 2014-15 season.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
27- Combined lead changes and ties between Concord and Davis & Elkins last season in the MEC Tournament.

42.4- Percentage from three-point range by CU against Wheeling, the highest since the MEC Tournament against D&E last season.

70- Wednesday night will be the 70^th all-time meeting with West Virginia Wesleyan.

WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN AT A GLANCE
The Bobcats have one of the most consistent scorers in the MEC in Jaydon Hibbitt. The forward is fourth in the MEC in scoring at 21.3 points per game and is shooting 48.4 percent. Braeden McGrew is one of the more well-rounded guards in the MEC as he averages 11.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. His 4.5 assists are fourth in the MEC and right behind CU's Weir. West Virginia Wesleyan is last in the MEC in scoring at 65.2 per game.

DAVIS & ELKINS AT A GLANCE
While Hibbitt is fourth in the MEC in scoring, Davis & Elkins guard Sam Rolle is pouring in 22.4 points per game for third most in the conference. Rolle's 6.1 assists per game are second in the MEC and he is shooting a blistering 42.3 percent from three-point range which is also second in the league. Breland Walton complements Rolle by averaging a double-double of 17.7 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. Walton had a double-double in all three games and averaged 25 points and 12.6 rebounds per game versus CU last season.