Concord Jockeys for MEC Postseason Seeding Versus West Virginia State

Concord Stats - West Virginia State Stats - Live Stats - Live Video - Complete Game Notes

ATHENS, W.Va. - The Concord University men's basketball team welcomes West Virginia State to the Carter Center 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in a Mountain East Conference meeting.

LIVE COVERAGE   
The Concord University Sports Information Department will provide live in-game statistics and live video of Wednesday's game. 

Live Stats
Live Video

SERIES HISTORY: Concord leads 47-39

LAST FIVE MEETINGS
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.)
January 10, 2021: West Virginia State 89 - Concord 74 (Athens, W.Va.)

COMING ON STRONG
In Concord's 84-83 defeat at Davis & Elkins Saturday afternoon, senior forward Jevon Laidler notched his second double-double in the last three games with 17 points and 11 rebounds. The Miami, Florida native canned a season-best three three-pointers as part of his performance. Over the last five games, Laidler has put together some of his best basketball in the Maroon and Gray as he is averaging 15.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game while shooting 52.9 percent from the field. Earlier this season versus West Virginia State, Laidler went for 13 points and six rebounds. In his first two career starts, freshman forward Rene Diop averaged 16 points and eight rebounds per game while shooting 61.9 percent (13-for-21) from the field.

HEATING UP
The Mountain Lions enter the week shooting 45 percent or better in four of their last six games, including 50 percent in Saturday's contest. For the season, CU is now shooting 45.6 percent for the season which is seventh in the MEC. Along with Laidler finding his touch, junior guard JJ Harper is shooting 46.1 percent from the floor during that stretch. Concord has shot 45 percent or better at home four time this season, including two of the last three contests inside the Carter Center. Additionally, the Maroon and Gray has hit 35 percent or better from three-point range five times at home this winter. In his last five home games, senior guard Ethan Heller is shooting 60.7 percent from three-point range (17-for-28).

AT THE RIM
More than half of Concord's points at Davis & Elkins came in the paint as it scored 48 in the lane. The Maroon and Gray has made a point to get close shots over the last couple weeks as they have netted 40 or more points in the paint in four of the last five games, and posted 36 points in the paint versus West Virginia Wesleyan last Wednesday. And over the last five games, CU has shot 55.6 percent in the paint. But on Wednesday night, Concord faces one of the best teams in the MEC at protecting the rim as West Virginia State records 4.3 blocks per game, second in the MEC. The Mountain Lions are first in the conference in blocks per game (4.7).

DOWN TO THE WIRE
Two of the last three meetings between Concord and West Virginia State have gone to overtime with all three games being decided by seven points or less. CU let a 71-66 lead slip away with five minutes left earlier this season as the Yellow Jackets won 85-80. Graduate guard Lual Daniel Rahama had one of his 10 double-doubles on the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Harper added 16 points off the bench. The home team won each game last year as WVSU grabbed a 101-94 overtime victory in February. Fifth-year senior forward Da'Vion Moore just missed a double-double with eight points and 11 rebounds. Rahama had 13 points and 10 rebounds while sophomore forward Amare Smith (13) and junior guard Jordan Wooden (17) combined for 30 points. Heller's late three-pointer forced overtime at CU in November 2021 before Concord won 81-79. Moore recorded 12 points and 10 rebounds. Rahama scored a game-best 21 points, and Heller added 15.  

HIGH OCTANE
Wednesday's game will feature one of the fastest teams in the MEC in West Virginia State as it has a high volume of possessions. Even though both teams shot under 40 percent in November, the game still featured 165 points. Over the last 10 games, the Mountain Lions are averaging 87.6 points per game versus WVSU. Coming into Wednesday, the Yellow Jackets are scoring 88.8 points per game which ranks eighth in Division II. West Virginia State does give up 81.7 points per game. Concord is 13-6 this season when it scores at least 80 points and 8-1 when it holds the opposition under 80 points. Seven of West Virginia State's eight losses have come when it was held under 85 points.

IN THE MIX
The Mountain Lions start the week tied with Davis & Elkins for seventh in the MEC standings with Glenville State only a game up in sixth place. The top six seeds in the MEC standings earn a bye into the quarterfinal round. CU is also within reach of a top four seed at the conference tournament as fourth place is a tie between West Virginia State and Notre Dame at 12-8 in the league. Concord finished the regular season at 11-11 last season and finished sixth in the standings before losing to Charleston in the MEC Quarterfinals. Dating back to the 2019-20 season, the Maroon and Gray is 13-5 at home in February, including a 4-0 mark this season.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
18- Rebounds over the next two games needed by Rahama to ensure averaging a double-double for the regular season.

19- Combined ties (10) and lead changes (nine) between Concord and WVSU in November.

32.8- Shooting percentage that Concord held WVSU to in November—lowest percentage of the year for the Yellow Jackets.

WEST VIRGINIA STATE AT A GLANCE
Overall Record: 18-8
MEC Record: 12-8
Home Record: 9-4
Away Record: 6-4
Neutral Record: 3-0

SCOUTING THE YELLOW JACKETS
After a 15-1 start to the season, WVSU is just 3-7 in its last 10 games. The Yellow Jackets endured a five-game losing streak, but have come back with wins in two of their last three games. Samier Kinsler is top 10 in the MEC in scoring (17.1 points) and is ranked top five in both three-pointers made (80) and three-point percentage (44.2) in the conference. Malik Whitaker averages 14.4 points per game and his 7.4 rebounds per contest are fifth in the MEC. Whitaker went for 21 points and 17 rebounds versus CU in November. Anthony Pittman has been reduced to 17 games this season, but is averaging 11.6 points per game.