PHILIPPI, W.Va. – The Concord University men's basketball team began the second half on a 15-6 run and never looked back in an 81-66 win over Alderson Broaddus Wednesday night in a Mountain East Conference contest at Rex Pyles Arena.
CU (4-3, 1-2 MEC) led for more than 10 minutes of the first half, but was outscored by Alderson Broaddus (1-5, 1-2 MEC), 15-10, over the final eight minutes of the first half and trailed 35-33 at halftime.
Graduate guard
Lual Daniel Rahama scored the first five points of the second half as he began with a three-point play before a transition layup 60 seconds into the half. Senior forward
Jevon Laidler tallied the next six points for Concord as the Mountain Lions took a 44-39 edge with 16:34 remaining in the contest.
The run was completed on a bucket by fifth-year senior forward
Da'Vion Moore and a fast break layup from junior guard
Jordan Wooden. After the Battlers reduced the deficit to 51-45 with 13:17 left, Wooden and Laidler had back-to-back field goals to grow the lead to double-digits for the first time in the game, 55-45, with 13:04 remaining.
Alderson Broaddus got as close as nine points at the 11:08 mark, but senior guard
Ethan Heller stepped into a top of the key three-pointer on the next CU possession to restore a double-digit lead that the Mountain Lions would maintain for the remainder of the game.
After shooting a respectable 46.6 percent in the first half, Concord ripped the nets for 59.3 percent in the second half. CU ended the game shooting 53.2 percent (33-for-62).
Junior guard
JJ Harper and Rahama both finished with 17 points. Laidler tossed in 15 points and a team-best eight rebounds. The trio combined to go 20-for-32 from the floor.
The Maroon and Gray held ABU to 40 percent in the second half after it matched Concord's 46 percent shooting in the opening 20 minutes.
Though taking just 12 three-pointers, CU made the most of its opportunities from beyond the arc by knocking in seven triples. Harper was 3-for-3 from deep.
The Mountain Lions owned a 40-32 advantage on the glass and scored 46 points in the paint.
After finishing a three-game road trip, Concord returns to the Carter Center for a 4:00 p.m. Saturday tip against Notre Dame.
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