Concord Hits Road In Search of Marquee Win Against Fairmont State

Concord Stats - Fairmont State Stats - Live Audio -  Live Stats - Live Video - Complete Game Notes

ATHENS, W.Va. - The Concord University men's basketball team goes for a season sweep of Fairmont State when the teams meet at FSU's Joe Retton Arena 4:00 p.m. Saturday in a Mountain East Conference game.

LIVE COVERAGE
The Fairmont State Sports Information Department will have live in-game statistics and live streaming video of the game. Fairmont State's Travis Jones and Duane Cochran will have live audio of the game on Sky 106.5 FM. 

Live Audio
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SERIES HISTORY: Fairmont State leads 63-32

LAST FIVE MEETINGS
December 6, 2022: Concord 86 - #19 Fairmont State 83 (Athens, W.Va.)
February 5, 2022: #12 Fairmont State 82 - Concord 80 (Athens, W.Va.)
December 8, 2021: #17 Fairmont State 85 - Concord 71 (Fairmont, W.Va.)
February 8, 2021: #21 Fairmont State 90 - Concord 68 (Fairmont, W.Va.)
February 8, 2020: Fairmont State 79 - Concord 71 (Fairmont, W.Va.)


RARE COMPANY
In Concord's 81-60 win over Frostburg State Wednesday night at the Carter Center, senior guard Ethan Heller reached 175 three-pointers for his career which vaulted him into the top 10 in program history, moving past Anthony Lansdowne (2003-08) for 10^th in program history. Heller scored 13 points to move past former teammate Malik Johnson on the program's all-time scoring list for 37^th. The Thornville, Ohio native is now at 1,049 career points. And he has piled up 276 assists in his career. Heller is one of just three players in program history with 1,000 points, 175 three-pointers and 250 assists, joining the exclusive club of Scott Goins (1988-92) and Todd Keffer (1990-93). Heller is 8-of-10 from three-point range in his last two games, including a perfect 3-for-3 versus Frostburg State Wednesday.

LOCK DOWN
The Mountain Lions put together one of their best defensive performance of the season in the win over Frostburg State. Concord tied its season low in points allowed in giving up 60. CU held the Bobcats to 31 percent from the field which was the lowest for a Maroon and Gray defense since holding West Virginia Wesleyan to 25 percent shooting during the 2014-15 season. Wednesday night marked the seventh time this winter that Concord has held the opposition to less than 40 percent shooting, and the second time in the last three games. Though Frostburg State had 22 offensive rebounds versus Concord, the Mountain Lions limited the Bobcats to 12 second-chance points.

THEY ARE FREE
Over the last two games, Concord has attempted 64 free throws which are the most in a two-game span since the 2021 season against Glenville State and West Virginia Wesleyan when CU attempted 65 free throws. The Mountain Lions are 23-of-32 at the foul line in each of the last two contests. Junior guard JJ Harper has led the free throw parade as he has attempted 21 free throws, making 14. Graduate guard Lual Daniel Rahama is 11-of-15 at the foul line in each of the last two games. Fifth-year senior forward Da'Vion Moore—just a 35 percent shooter at the charity stripe—made 4-of-5 Wednesday night versus Frostburg State. The Mountain Lions only attempted 15 foul shots against Fairmont State in a December win.

UPSET INGREDIENTS
The headline in CU's upset of nationally-ranked, 19^th-rated Fairmont State in December was the three-point shot. Concord set a single-game program record by shooting 66.7 percent (12-for-18) from three-point distance. Heller and sophomore forward Amare Smith hit on four three-pointers each, and Harper made three three-pointers. Harper tallied 20 points while Smith posted a season-high 18 points. Against Fairmont State's full-court pressure, the Mountain Lions only committed 10 turnovers. The three-pointer has been a common denominator for CU versus Fairmont State. The last time the Maroon and Gray won at Fairmont State—during the 2018-19 season—CU made 11 triples. Points off turnovers were also key in Concord's win this season as it outscored the Fighting Falcons 21-10 in the 86-83 win.

ACCESS DENIED
The Mountain Lions have been ranked in the top three of the MEC in blocks per game for the duration of the season, and enter Saturday leading the conference in blocks per game (4.5). Fairmont State is third with 4.1 blocks per contest. CU erased seven shots versus the Fighting Falcons in December. Senior forward Jevon Laidler had three blocks while Moore posted two blocks. After not recording a block at Glenville State—the only time Concord has been shut out this season from blocks—the Maroon and Gray has 23 blocks over the last three games. Moore has tallied seven blocks in the last three games while freshman forward Rene Diop had a career-best four blocks versus Frostburg State. Laidler is third in the MEC in blocks (1.4) while Fairmont State's Seth Younkin ranks fifth (1.2).

ONE AND DONE
Normally a strong offensive rebounding team, Fairmont State is only sixth in the MEC with 12.0 offensive boards per game. Meanwhile, Concord is second with 13.8 offensive rebounds per contest. Not only did CU outscore Fairmont State by 11 on points off turnovers, but it also held a +11 advantage in second-chance points (18-7). FSU had two more offensive rebounds than Concord, 14-12, but the Mountain Lions were more efficient with their second chances. Harper, Heller and Rahama combined for 14 of the 18 second-chance points for Concord. Fairmont State (28.8) and Concord (28.3) rank first and third in the MEC in defensive rebounds per game.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
8- Seasons since Concord has swept Fairmont State

30- Consecutive free throws made by Smith, dating back to December 6 versus Fairmont State.

38- Minutes with the lead for CU versus Fairmont State in December as the game only featured three ties.

FAIRMONT STATE AT A GLANCE
Overall Record: 16-5
MEC Record: 11-4
Home Record: 9-1
Away Record: 7-4

SCOUTING THE FIGHTING FALCONS
Fairmont State is one of the hottest teams in the conference as it had won eight straight games before a road loss to Glenville State Wednesday night. The Fighting Falcons are just outside the top 25 in the national polls. Isaiah Sanders averages 18.5 points per game, sixth in the MEC, and leads the league in three-point shooting (45.2 percent) and three-pointers made (70). Fairmont State's 92.4 points per game are the third most in Division II. George Mangas scores 15.2 points per game and shoots 60.1 percent. Zyon Dobbs is a catalyst for the FSU offense with 11.1 points per contest and the second-most assists in the MEC (5.1).