PHILLIPI, W.Va. – A layup from sophomore guard
Jordan Wooden with 1:32 remaining in the game helped push the Concord University men's basketball team past Alderson-Broaddus, 85-80, Saturday afternoon in a Mountain East Conference game at Rex Pyles Arena.
With the contest tied for the eighth time, 78-78, Wooden drove the middle of the paint and floated shot up from six feet that dropped through for a two-point CU (9-10, 7-7 MEC) lead. After a defensive stop and subsequent rebound by senior guard
Brandon Kennedy, fifth-year senior guard
Matt Weir found junior forward
Jevon Laidler on the right wing for a three-pointer to push the lead to five.
The Mountain Lions connected on free throws in the final 50 seconds to seal the road win over Alderson-Broaddus (8-9, 5-8 MEC).
Along with the eight ties, the game also featured nine lead changes.
Concord was able to create some separation right after the under-10 media timeout of the first half. Up 21-20 with 8:26 remaining, the Mountain Lions went on a 10-3 run to lead 31-23 on two of Wooden's career-best 21 points in the contest at the 5:15 mark.
AB fired back with a 13-5 scoring spurt to take a 38-36 lead, but the Mountain Lions tied the game at halftime as freshman forward
Amare Smith scored on the half's final possession.
CU started the second hot as it outscored the Battlers 16-6 over the first 4:15 of the half to take its largest lead of the game, 54-44. Laidler, Weir and Wooden combined for 13 of the 16 points.
Concord was able to fend off the Battlers until they grabbed a 62-61 edge at the 9:42 mark of the second half. From there, the largest margin either team had was a six-point gap, 75-69, after one of Wooden's two three-pointers in the game.
Weir tied his career high with 27 points as he rang in 5-of-7 three-point attempts in the contest. He added six assists while committing just one turnover. Laidler continued his hot stretch with 23 points on 10-of-17 from the field.
Wooden netted his first career 20-point game as he shot a very efficient 64.2 percent (9-of-14) from the floor.
The Mountain Lions shot a road season-best 54.1 percent (33-of-61) from the floor. And Concord hit on 45.8 percent (11-of-24) of its three-pointers in the contest.
Saturday was the first time this season that CU has had three 20-point scorers in the same game.
Concord continues on the road 7:30 p.m. Wednesday when it visits Frostburg State.
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