ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University men's basketball team was unable to hold onto a 42-41 halftime lead as it fell 99-71 to Charleston Wednesday night in a Mountain East Conference game at the Carter Center.
The Mountain Lions (6-10, 4-7 MEC) survived seven ties and 11 lead changes in the first half while shooting 55.2 percent (16-for-29) to gain the one-point advantage.
The biggest lead for either team in the first 20 minutes was a six-point cushion for Concord, 12-6, after fifth-year forward
Lual Daniel Rahama stroked in two of 20 points at the 15:24 mark.
Sophomore forward
Jake Hamilton closed the first half with all five of his points for the game coming consecutively to lift CU to a 42-38 edge before the Golden Eagles (12-2, 8-1 MEC) hit a long-distance three-pointer at the halftime horn.
Concord took a 45-43 edge on a three-pointer by fifth-year senior guard
Matt Weir and tied the game for the ninth time, 50-50, on a triple from senior guard
Brandon Kennedy at the 16:31 mark. However, a 12-2 run from Charleston over the next 3:53 of the contest put CU down 62-52.
The Mountain Lions closed to within nine points, 73-64, with 7:18 left after two free throws from freshman forward
Amare Smith, but it was the closest Concord would get for the remainder of the game.
Due to Covid-19 protocols, only seven players dressed in the Maroon and Gray Wednesday night.
Rahama led three players in double figures by scoring his 20 on 8-of-14 shooting. Weir played all 40 minutes as he netted 17 points on 4-of-8 shooting. The Nashport, Ohio native made three of his five three-point tries and hit all six foul shots.
Smith recorded a new career-high with 16 points. Junior forward
Jevon Laidler flirted with a double-double of seven points and eight rebounds.
The Mountain Lions welcome Glenville State to the Carter Center 4:00 p.m. Saturday.
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