BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – Two free throws by fifth-year senior guard
Matt Weir with six seconds left was the deciding factor as the Concord University men's basketball team claimed an 89-88 win over Bluefield State Monday night in a non-conference game at Ned Shott Gymnasium.
The Mountain Lions (11-13) led for over 36 minutes, but had to withstand a late charge from BSC (6-12).
Concord led by 11 points, 80-69, with 5:14 remaining after junior forward
Jevon Laidler buried a left corner three-pointer to push Concord up double digits. The Mountain Lions held off the Big Blues over the next four minutes until Bluefield State scored five straight points over a 41-second span to take an 88-87 lead with 59 seconds remaining.
After empty possessions by both teams followed, CU turned to Weir who drove down the left side of the paint and was fouled with six ticks left on the clock. The Nashport, Ohio native stepped up and sank both free throws, part of a 10-of-14 showing for him at the foul line.
On the ensuing Bluefield State possession, Laidler blocked away a layup as the buzzer sounded as Concord hung on for the single-point win.
The Mountain Lions took a 4-2 advantage 2:22 into the contest and never relinquished the lead until the brief edge for Bluefield State in the final minute of the second half.
Concord built a lead as big as 13 points in the first half, 42-29, after back-to-back three-pointers from junior guard
Ethan Heller at the 2:35 mark. BSC closed the gap to 46-41 at halftime.
Two minutes into the second half, the lead expanded back to double figures as fifth-year senior
Lual Daniel Rahama scored two of his 18 points on the night to give CU a 53-43 advantage. And the lead remained at least five points until the Big Blues chopped the advantage to 83-79 with 2:13 remaining.
CU got a balanced scoring effort as five players finished in double figures and Heller just missed double figures with eight. Senior forward
Da'Vion Moore tied his career best with 20 points on 10-of-13 shooting as he slammed down three dunks in the first half. Moore added 12 rebounds for his second double-double of the season.
Rahama just missed a double-double with 18 points and nine rebounds. Paced by 10 points at the foul line, Weir netted 12 points to go with five assists. Sophomore guard
Jordan Wooden recorded his second double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Laidler posted 12 points off the bench.
Concord offset 34 turnovers in the game by shooting 52.2 percent (35-of-67), and outrebounding BSC 62-30. The 62 rebounds set a single-game program record, previously set at 61 against Bluefield State in December 2016. It's also tied for the fourth most rebounds in a Division II game this season.
CU held the Big Blues to 1-of-16 from three-point range (6.3 percent).
Concord travels to West Virginia Wesleyan 7:30 p.m. Wednesday for a Mountain East Conference contest.
Â
Â
