Concord Erupts in Second Half to Down Davis & Elkins, 85-73

ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University men's basketball team exploded for 54 points in the second half as it defeated Davis & Elkins 85-73 Saturday afternoon in a Mountain East Conference contest at the Carter Center.

After a first half that saw six ties and five lead changes, the Mountain Lions (9-2, 5-2 MEC) trailed 35-31 at half as neither team led by more than eight points in the opening 20 minutes.

CU took control of the game near the halfway point of the second half. With the game tied for the ninth and final time at 49-49 with 12:34 left, Concord ripped off a 9-2 run over the next 2:01 that ended with sophomore guard Kollin Tolbert finishing off a traditional three-point play. The 58-51 advantage was the largest lead for the Mountain Lions to that point.
Davis & Elkins (9-5, 5-2 MEC) never went away as Concord's lead remained in single digits until Tolbert connected on a three-pointer from the top of the key off an offensive rebound from sophomore forward Ayden Ince. CU's lead grew to 72-62 with 4:30 remaining.

The Senators scored eight of the next ten points in the game to trim the margin to 74-70 with 2:31 remaining. However, on the next Concord possession, senior guard JJ Harper connected on a corner three-pointer to kickstart a 9-0 run that helped put the contest out of reach. The scoring spurt saw Harper hit a second three-pointer.

Both teams shot less than 40 percent in the first half. But Concord heated up to shoot 55.6 percent in the second half and 47.8 percent for the game (33-for-69). Defensively, the Mountain Lions limited Davis & Elkins to less than 40 percent in both halves and 34.9 percent for the game.

Harper was consistent in both halves with 13 points in the first half and 12 after halftime as part of his season-best 25 points. Tolbert scored 16 of his 20 points after halftime as he added in six rebounds and five assists. The Cincinnati, Ohio native went 5-for-9 from the floor and 9-of-12 at the foul line.

Sophomore forward Rene Diop chipped in 12 points and five rebounds.
In a battle of the two top rebounding teams in the MEC, the rebounds finished tied, 46-46. No Concord player had more than six rebounds—Harper, fifth-year senior forward Jevon Laidler and Tolbert—in the game.

CU welcomes nationally-ranked West Liberty to the Carter Center 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.