BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – The Concord University men's basketball team held West Virginia Wesleyan to 26.7 percent shooting in the second half as it erased a five-point deficit on its way to a 78-64 victory Wednesday night in a Mountain East Conference game at the Rockefeller Center.
The Mountain Lions (9-4, 6-3 MEC) shot 48.3 percent in the first half, but could not contain West Virginia Wesleyan (1-12, 1-8 MEC) in the opening 20 minutes as WVWC shot 57.7 percent and stroked in eight three-pointers.
Trailing 48-44 three minutes into the second half, Concord went on a 10-2 run that was capped by a three-pointer from senior guard
Ethan Heller at the 12:14 mark. From there, Wesleyan got as close as 54-51, but the Mountain Lions ripped five straight points to restore a 59-51 edge. The Bobcats got no closer than five points over the final 8:16 of the game.
CU marched out to a 13-9 lead after one of three first-half three-pointers by sophomore forward
Amare Smith at the 14:12 mark. Still leading 20-15 after layup from senior forward
Jevon Laidler, with 10:58 left in the first half, Concord was outscored 15-3 over the next five minutes as WVWC took a 30-23 advantage.
Over the final six minutes of the half, the Maroon and Gray chased the lead, and got as close as 41-38 after a dunk from Laidler. The Bobcats got the final bucket of the first half, though.
For a third straight game, Concord had five or more players in double figures. Junior guard
JJ Harper was an efficient 6-of-9 from the floor for his 18 points. Smith came off the bench with 16 points as he knocked in four three-pointers.
Graduate guard
Lual Daniel Rahama flirted with a triple-double as he went for 12 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished out seven assists—six in the first half. Heller put together an all-around game with 11 points, four assists and no turnovers.
Laidler nearly had a double-double with 10 points and eight boards.
Concord owned a distinct advantage in rebounding, 45-27, including 20 offensive rebounds.
The Mountain Lions welcome Davis & Elkins to the Carter Center 4:00 p.m. Saturday. Â
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