ELKINS, W.Va. – The Concord University men's basketball team let a double-digit second-half lead slip away in an 84-83 defeat at Davis & Elkins Saturday afternoon in a Mountain East Conference game at the McDonnell Center.
With the game tied 41-41 at halftime, CU (14-12, 10-10 MEC) began the second half on an 18-6 run as freshman forward
Rene Diop capped the spur with a three-point play. The first of consecutive buckets from sophomore forward
Amare Smith took the lead to 68-50 at the 11:49 mark of the second half.
The Mountain Lions held off multiple Davis & Elkins (16-10, 10-10 MEC) charges throughout the second half, and still led 79-72 with three minutes remaining. CU saw an 81-75 edge disappear as Senators went on a 7-0 run to grab an 82-81 advantage with 57 seconds remaining.
A Diop layup with 36 seconds remaining gave Concord a one-point edge, but Davis & Elkins answered with an offensive putback with 15 seconds left. The Mountain Lions were denied on the game's final possession.
The Senators jumped out to a 16-6 lead in the first five minutes of the game. CU tied the score four times in the first half, but never led.
Graduate guard
Lual Daniel Rahama went for 20 points and seven rebounds. Senior forward
Jevon Laidler had his second double-double of the week with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Diop and junior guard
JJ Harper both had 15 points. Smith came off the bench with 11 points.
CU shot 50 percent for the game (35-for-70). The rebounding battle finished tied 32-32.
Concord wraps up the regular season with two home games. The first comes 7:30 p.m. Wednesday versus West Virginia State.
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