Concord Looks to Rebound on the Road Against Wheeling

Concord Stats - Wheeling Stats - Live Stats - Live Video - Complete Game Notes

ATHENS, W.Va. - The Concord University men's basketball team takes on one of its longest road trips of the season when it heads to Wheeling for a 4:00 p.m. Saturday Mountain East Conference contest inside the McDonough Center.

LIVE COVERAGE
The Wheeling University Sports Information Department will have live statisitcs and live video of the game. 

Live Stats
Live Video

LAST FIVE MEETINGS VERSUS WHEELING
February 8, 2023: Concord 101 - Wheeling 98 (OT) (Athens, W.Va.)
January 7, 2023: Concord 81 - Wheeling 76 (Wheeling, W.Va.)
February 9, 2022: Wheeling 82 - Concord 80 (Wheeling, W.Va.)
January 8, 2022: Concord 92 - Wheeling 84 (Athens, W.Va.)
February 15, 2021: Concord 74 - Wheeling 73 (Wheeling, W.Va.)

CONCORD AT A GLANCE
Overall Record: 9-3
MEC Record: 5-3
Home Record: 4-2
Away Record: 4-1
Neutral Record: 1-0

STATISTICAL ODDITY
In a tussle with nationally-ranked West Liberty Wednesday night, the Mountain Lions lost 91-79 despite shooting better from the field than WLU, 44.4 percent to 42.3 percent. Two of the three losses for Concord this season have come when the Maroon and Gray has shot better than the opponent from the field (at Fairmont State and against West Liberty). CU had three different players shoot at least 50 percent from the floor—with a minimum of five shots—versus WLU: sophomore guard Kollin Tolbert (7-for-12), sophomore forward Rene Diop (4-for-5) and fifth-year senior forward Jevon Laidler (4-for-8). Wednesday night was the first time this season that Concord had lost when holding the opponent under 45 percent—previously 7-0.

CENTER OF ATTENTION
In the four games since returning from Christmas break, CU has received stellar production from its two primary five men or centers—Diop and sophomore forward Ayden Ince. Off the bench, Ince has been efficient from the field over the last six games. In late November, the Beckley, West Virginia native went through a tough 1-for-11 stretch from the field, but since then is shooting 16-for-31 (51.6 percent) over the last six games. Diop not only leads the MEC in blocks (2.4), but is shooting 51.2 percent over the last six contests. The Dakar, Senegal native has at least three blocks in three of the last five games, and in the last three games, Diop's individual plus-minus is +24, including a +17 versus Davis & Elkins. 

FREE AT THE STRIPE
The Mountain Lions made 20 free throws in the win over West Liberty as they shot 76.9 percent (20-for-26) from the charity stripe while making the second most foul shots in a single game this season. Wednesday night was the first time this winter that CU has made 15 or more free throws in a game and lost—previously 4-0. And since the start of last season the Mountain Lions are 15-5 when making at least 15 foul shots. In the West Liberty game, junior guard Corey Boston was a perfect 5-for-5 at the charity stripe as he made a career best in free throws. Tolbert knocked in 5-of-6 attempts at the foul line versus West Liberty. Saturday's game will be a matchup of two of the top four free-throw shooting teams in the MEC. Wheeling is second (75.4 percent) and Concord is fourth (74.4 percent).

FULL 40
Heading into Saturday's tilt, five of the last seven games between Concord and Wheeling have been decided by five points or fewer. CU swept both games last season despite facing double-digit deficits in both games. The Mountain Lions were trailing 35-25 at halftime at WU last season before hanging 56 points in the second half to come out with an 81-76 win. Laidler netted 15 and added eight rebounds. Senior guard JJ Harper came off the bench with 14 points as five players finished in double figures. CU outlasted Wheeling in overtime 101-98 at the Carter Center in February after trailing by 10 in the first half. Harper tossed in a career-best 30 points while Laidler notched one of his six career 20-point games with 20 points. In four career games versus Wheeling, Laidler is averaging 15 points and 6.7 rebounds per game while shooting 54.3 percent from the field.

TRENDING UP
After shooting 44.4 percent against West Liberty, CU carries a three-game streak of shooting 43 percent or better from the floor, something that has only been done one other time this season (versus Pitt-Johnstown, versus Bluefield State and versus Charleston). Concord has not shot 43 percent or better from the floor in four straight games since the end of last season. CU's 43.8 shooting percentage for the season only ranks eighth in the MEC. However, Wheeling allows teams to shoot 47.1 percent, third highest in the conference. And in the last four meetings, Concord has shot a combined 47 percent from the field versus Wheeling. In particular after halftime, the Mountain Lions have sunk 50.7 percent of their shots in those four games.

ACCESS DENIED
Saturday's matchup features three of the top five shot blockers in the MEC. With Diop pacing the field in blocks per game, Wheeling's Kevin Coleman Jr. is third in the MEC in blocks per game (1.5) and Harper ranks fourth (1.3). As a team, Concord's 5.1 blocks per game are second in the MEC behind West Virginia State. Meanwhile, Wheeling is fourth with 4.1 blocks per game. Harper tied his season high with two blocks versus West Liberty. Concord has blocked three or more shots in all 12 games this season. Dating back to last season, the Maroon and Gray has at least three blocks in 15 consecutive games—the longest streak since prior to the 2011-12 season. CU piled up 14 blocks in two games versus Wheeling last season with Laidler notching five.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
6.4- Per game rebounds by Tolbert, sixth in the MEC and tops among all guards in the conference.

102- Combined free throw attempts from Concord and Wheeling in two games last season.

234- Consecutive games by CU with at least three made three-pointers after Concord extended the streak in the final minute of the West Liberty game.

WHEELING AT A GLANCE
Overall Record: 5-9
MEC Record: 2-6
Home Record: 3-2
Away Record: 2-5
Neutral Record: 0-2

SCOUTING THE CARDINALS
Marcus Johnson leads the MEC in scoring at 22.2 points per game and is ninth in Division II. With the high offensive usage, Johnson is shooting a stellar 49.1 percent from the field. Sean Ealy nets 14.4 points per game while hitting 54.5 percent of his shots from the floor. Caleb Murray has started just two games this season, but scores 10.5 points per game. Seven of Wheeling's 14 games have been decided by six points or less, going 2-5 in those games. However, one of the wins was a home upset of Charleston.