Concord Travels to Charleston to Face Nationally-Ranked MEC Rival

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

ATHENS, W.Va. - The Concord University men's basketball team takes on nationally-ranked, 23^rd-rated Charleston in a marquee Mountain East Conference matchup 7:30 p.m. Wednesday inside Charleston's Wehrle Center.

LIVE COVERAGE
The Charleston Sports Information Department will have live statistics and live video of the game. 

Live Stats
Live Video

SERIES HISTORY: Charleston leads 102-55

LAST FIVE MEETINGS VERSUS CHARLESTON
November 18, 2023: Charleston 81 - Concord 74 (Athens, W.Va.)
January 18, 2023: Charleston 93 - Concord 82 (Charleston, W.Va.)
November 19, 2022: Charleston 82 - Concord 77 (Athens, W.Va.)
March 4, 2022: Charleston 88 - Concord 84 (Wheeling, W.Va.)
January 19, 2022: Charleston 99 - Concord 71 (Athens, W.Va.)

CONCORD AT A GLANCE
Overall Record: 10-3
MEC Record: 6-3
Home Record: 4-2
Away Record: 5-1
Neutral Record: 1-0

KLUTCH TIME KOLLIN
In Concord's 94-88 win at Wheeling Saturday afternoon, CU turned to sophomore guard Kollin Tolbert down the stretch to help secure the win. The Cincinnati, Ohio native scored 11 of the final 12 Concord points in the game when the contest was tied 82-82 with just over three minutes remaining. Tolbert netted 16 points in total and added 12 rebounds for his third career double-double, all coming this season.  With his effort down the stretch, Tolbert leads Concord with 34 clutch-time points—defined as points scored in the final three minutes and overtime when the margin is within 10 points—this season. The next closest Mountain Lion is fifth-year senior forward Jevon Laidler with 14 points. Tolbert's 6.8 rebounds per game also rank fifth in the MEC this winter.

BALANCE BEAM
In Saturday's win, Concord got a well-rounded scoring effort as five players finished in double figures. It was the first time since last year's regular-season finale that CU had five players go for 10 or more points. Sophomore forward Rene Diop tied Tolbert for the team lead in scoring as Diop registered a season high in points while tying his career high with seven made field goals. Senior guard JJ Harper netted 14 points while junior forward Amare Smith came off the bench for 13 points. Senior guard Jordan Wooden tallied 10 points to round out the top scorers for the Mountain Lions. Four different Mountain Lions have scored in double figures at least six times this season led by Tolbert's nine occurrences. Harper and Wooden have scored in double figures seven times while Smith has pulled off the feat six times.

THROW IT CLOSE
Concord shot 50.7 percent from the field in the victory against Wheeling, the second-highest shooting percentage of the season. The efficiency by the Mountain Lions was led by the ability to get inside the painted area. CU recorded a season-high 54 points in the paint against the Cardinals. Over the last three games, Concord is averaging just over 46 points in the paint. Diop is the leading the way by shooting 68 percent (17-for-25) in the lane over his last three games. But, as a team Concord has attempted 63.3 percent of its shots from within the paint over the last three games. In six of the last seven games, the Maroon and Gray has recorded 40 or more points in the paint, including going over 50 twice.

SIZZLING NETS
In the first matchup between Concord and Charleston this season—an 81-74 win for the Golden Eagles—both teams shot better than 50 percent from the field. CU shot a season-best 50.8 percent (30-for-59) from the field while Charleston hit on 50 percent (29-for-58) from the floor. The biggest difference in the game turned out to be the three-point shot. The Mountain Lions connected on just four triples in the game while UC hit on 10 three-pointers that included a 43.5 percent showing (10-for-23) from beyond the arc. Offensively, Tolbert (20 points) and Harper (19) combined for 39 points as both shot better than 50 percent from the field. Concord registered 50 points in the paint, the third highest total of the season.

GOOD ON GOOD
Wednesday night pits the MEC's most efficient offense in Charleston against the league's best overall defense in CU. Charleston leads Division II in field-goal percentage (53.3) and ranks 28^th in the country in points per game (85.7). UC leads the MEC in three-point percentage (38.4) and is top 35 nationally in the statistic. On the other side, Concord's defense is allowing 75.7 points per game, fourth in the MEC. The overall field goal percentage that CU gives up is second in the MEC (40.5 percent) and is 19^th in Division II. Concord is the only team in the MEC giving up less than 30 percent from three-point range (29.5) which ranks 12^th in Division II. The Mountain Lions have only given up 50 percent from the field twice this year, in losses to Fairmont State and Charleston.

BATTLE ON THE BOARDS
The best rebounding teams in the MEC will be on display Wednesday night as UC ranks first in the conference in rebounding margin (6.7) with Concord close behind (5.9) in second. The sides rank 21^st and 29^th nationally in rebounding margin, respectively. Because of pace of play, Charleston only averages 35.7 rebounds per game, but holds opponents to 29.1 rebounds per game—the lowest in the league by more than seven rebounds. Meanwhile, Concord's 45.7 rebounds per game are tops in Division II. This season, Concord is 10-0 when either tying in rebounding or outrebounding the opponent, and 0-3 when it gets outrebounded. Individually, Tolbert (6.8), Diop (6.0) and Harper (5.9) rank in the top 12 of the MEC in rebounding.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
5- Years since Concord and Charleston (January 2019) play each other when both teams have at least 10 wins and five or fewer losses.

20- One of Tolbert's two 20-point games this season came against Charleston in November.

25- Combined lead changes (11) and ties (14) between Concord and Wheeling on Saturday.

CHARLESTON AT A GLANCE
Overall Record: 13-2
MEC Record: 8-1
Home Record: 7-1
Away Record: 6-1

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES
Head coach Dwaine Osborne secured his 300^th career win in last week's win versus West Virginia Wesleyan. His efficient offensive system showcases six players averaging at least nine points per game. Eddie Colbert is third in the MEC in scoring (17.8). DeAirius Barker (12.7) and Tyler Eberhart (11.8) round out the top scorers. Eberhart tallied 19 points in the first meeting this season with CJ Meredith coming off the bench for 15 points. Dwaine Jones leads the league in assists (5.7). UC has won six straight home games since a November loss to Gannon. Overall, the Golden Eagles have collected seven straight wins.