WHEELING, W.Va. – A 10-0 run in the closing minutes still wasn't enough as the Concord University men's basketball team dropped an 82-80 decision to Wheeling Wednesday night at the McDonough Center in a Mountain East Conference clash.
Down 72-64 with 6:46 remaining, CU (10-12, 8-9 MEC) had just watched the Cardinals (8-15, 7-10 MEC) cap a 14-4 scoring run to take the eight-point lead. However, Concord answered by holding scoreless for the next 2:59 to take a 74-72 edge. Fifth-year senior guard
Matt Weir was responsible for five points during the spurt.
The teams traded scores as the game remained tied at 74, 76 and again at 80 after Weir canned two free throws with 30 seconds remaining. Wheeling's Jarett Haines was able to draw a foul with three seconds left and hit both free throws.
Weir's deep three-pointers from the left wing was short at the buzzer as the Mountain Lions fell by two points for a second consecutive game.
The contest remained tight throughout with 13 ties and 14 lead changes, including 10 lead changes in the first half alone. Neither team led by more than four points in the opening half until Wheeling scored the final five points of the first half to take a 42-36 lead at halftime.
Still down six, 52-46, three minutes into the second half, CU ripped off a 14-4 scoring spurt that was paced by four three-pointers. Concord took a 60-56 lead at the 11:32 mark before Wheeling answered the bell halfway through the second half.
Weir dropped in a team-high 21 points as he sank five three-pointers. The Nashport, Ohio native added five assists and was a perfect 6-of-6 at the foul line. Fifth-year senior forward
Lual Daniel Rahama had a late scoring burst to post 11 points. He tied for the team lead in rebounds with junior forward
Jevon Laidler as both had seven.
Senior guard
Brandon Kennedy canned three three-pointers in the first half for his nine points. Freshman forward
Amare Smith and sophomore guard
Jordan Wooden each netted eight points.
The Mountain Lions connected on 13 three-pointers and shot 50 percent from three-point distance. Overall, Concord was 47.5 percent from the field. However, CU was outrebounded 38-30 and gave up 21 second-chance points.
Concord welcomes nationally-ranked, fourth-rated West Liberty to the Carter Center 4:00 p.m. Saturday.
Â
Â
