Concord Takes on West Virginia State

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ATHENS, W.Va. - The Concord University men's basketball teams seeks to shake off Saturday's loss to Charleston in the Mountain East Conference opener when it travels to West Virginia State 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in a league contest at the Walker Convocation Center.

LIVE COVERAGE
The West Virginia State Sports Information Department will have live statistics and live streaming video of the game. 

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SERIES HISTORY: Concord leads 47-40

LAST FIVE MEETINGS VERSUS WEST VIRGINIA STATE
February 22, 2023: West Virginia State 90 - Concord 85 (Athens, W.Va.)
November 22, 2022: West Virginia State 85 - Concord 80 (Institute, W.Va.)
February 23, 2022: West Virginia State 101 - Concord 94 (OT) (Institute, W.Va.)
November 29, 2021: Concord 81 - West Virginia State 79 (OT) (Athens, W.Va.)
February 17, 2021: Concord 96 - West Virginia State 81 (Institute, W.Va.)

CONCORD AT A GLANCE
Overall Record: 3-1
MEC Record: 0-1
Home Record: 1-1
Away Record: 1-0
Neutral Record: 0-1

FINDING THE STROKE
Even in the setback Saturday afternoon, the Mountain Lions shot an efficient 50.8 percent from the floor—the highest percentage of the season. CU shot 61.9 percent on two-point attempts against Charleston. It marked the second time in the last five home games that the Maroon and Gray shot better than 50 percent from the field. After making just 10 field goals in 37 attempts through the first three games of the season, senior guard JJ Harper made 8-for-14 from the floor against Charleston to pace the stellar shooting. Sophomore guard Kollin Tolbert was 8-for-15 versus UC as he poured in 20 points, his second career 20-point game, and first since last November at Ohio Dominican. Sophomore forward Rene Diop was 4-for-7 for his eight points.

FILL UP THE STAT SHEET
Senior guard Jordan Wooden impacted the Charleston game in several different ways Saturday. Despite scoring just eight points, Wooden grabbed six rebounds, dished out a team-best four assists and tied his career high with three steals. The Roanoke, Virginia native has grabbed two or more offensive rebounds in three of four games this season, and has tallied at least three assists in all four games. And only Harper's 35.3 minutes per game is higher than Wooden's 34.3 minutes per game in the conference. Additionally, Wooden's 3.3 assists per game and 1.8 offensive rebounds per game are both tied for 10^th in the MEC.

RETURN TO SENDER
Against Charleston, Concord recorded three blocks as fifth-year senior forward Jevon Laidler notched one, and Tolbert and freshman forward Boubacar Djigo each had their first career block. Dating back to last year, CU has registered multiple blocked shots in 21 of its last 22 games, averaging 5.3 blocks per game. Individually, Laidler is averaging 1.3 blocks per game in his last 22 games, and Harper is chipping in 1.1 blocks per game over that same span. As a team, Concord is tied with West Virginia State for third in the conference in blocks this season (5.0 per game). Diop is swatting 2.7 shots per game, second in the MEC, while WVSU's Nate Mims and Anthony Pittman are tied for tied for sixth in the MEC with 1.3 blocks per game.

DOWN TO THE WIRE
Of the last four games between Concord and West Virginia State, two have gone to overtime and two have been decided by five points in regulation. In November 2021, CU came back from a late deficit before defeating WVSU at the Carter Center, 81-79, in overtime. The Yellow Jackets returned the favor with a seven-point overtime win at home, 101-94, in February 2022. In the first meeting last season, the game featured nine ties and 10 lead changes before West Virginia State prevailed, 85-80. At home in February, the Mountain Lions led by as much as 14 points in the second half, but were unable to close it out in a 90-85 WVSU win. Harper and Laidler both averaged 16.5 points per game versus WVSU last season. Harper shot 53.5 percent from the field (15-for-28) and Laidler averaged 7.5 boards per contest.

LOCK EM DOWN
Despite the high-scoring affair at West Virginia State, both teams shot below 40 percent from the floor last year. But, the script flipped at Concord as CU hit on 47 percent of its shots and the Yellow Jackets were over 50 percent from the floor in February. Though Charleston shot 50 percent against CU, the Mountain Lions are still fourth in the MEC in field-goal defense early in the season (40.4) while West Virginia State is just behind in fifth (40.8). Dating back to the start of the 2021-22 season, Concord is 22-11 when it holds teams under 40 percent shooting. Twelve of the 15 wins for the Maroon and Gray last season came when it held the opposition under 45 percent.

GET ON THE GLASS
The Mountain Lions lost the rebounding batting, 34-30, Saturday versus Charleston, marking the first time this season CU has been under 45 rebounds. Traditionally, a long, athletic, team West Virginia State has staked its claim to being one of the best rebounding teams in the MEC. Concord's rebounding margin of 7.0 is the best in the conference. WVSU, meanwhile, is averaging 14 offensive rebounds per game which is third in the MEC. Concord has the best defensive rebounding total in the league, notching 32 per game. At WVSU last year, CU gave up 13 offensive rebounds to the Yellow Jackets that turned into 21 second-chance points. However, Concord trimmed the mark down to eight offensive rebounds and eight second-chance points in February.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
3- Players for CU that rank in the top 12 in the MEC in rebounds per game: Harper (fourth/7.3), Tolbert (11^th/6.8) and Diop (12^th/6.3).

9- Combined number that Concord outrebounded West Virginia State by last season in two games.

10- Points scored by sophomore forward Ayden Ince last year at home versus WVSU, a career high at the time.

WEST VIRGINIA STATE AT A GLANCE
Overall Record: 1-2
MEC Record: 0-1
Home Record: 1-1
Away Record: 0-1

SCOUTING THE YELLOW JACKETS
Four Yellow Jackets are scoring in double figures led by Pittman, a multi-time All-MEC performer, who is netting 13 points per game. Pittman is also the team leader in rebounds (7.0) and assists (2.3). Mims, a junior college transfer, is scoring 12.7 points per game and former West Virginia high school standout Bunky Brown (George Washington) throws in 10.3 points per game. WVSU lost its conference opener to Glenville State, 84-75. The Yellow Jackets shot just 35 percent in the game and allowed 59 points in the second half.