ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University men's basketball team held off Salem, 100-92, Saturday afternoon in a non-conference game inside the Carter Center on Senior Day.
CU (16-4) and Salem (6-16) went back-and-forth early as the game was tied at 13-13 after a layup from sophomore forward
Rene Diop with 14:33 remaining in the opening half. Over the next seven minutes, the Mountain Lions slowly pulled away as they opened up a 29-19 advantage after two free throws from sophomore guard
Kollin Tolbert.
Undeterred by the limited scoring, SU rattled off a 15-9 spurt to climb within 38-34 with 1:18 remaining in the half. A three-pointer from freshman guard
Georges Archer restored a seven-point advantage, but Salem scored six of the final eight points of the first half to cut the deficit to 43-40.
The second half opened like the start with ties at 43, 45 and 48. And again the Mountain Lions methodically stretched their lead as a 10-0 run was capped by two more foul shots from Tolbert at the 14:16 mark. CU kept Salem in check and even ballooned the lead to a game-best 12 points, 76-64, after a triple from sophomore guard
Corey Boston.
Concord held off one more Salem rally as it got the margin down to four points, 81-77, with 5:46 left. However, a 10-3 run restored a double-digit lead, 90-79, with 3:23 remaining. CU went 10-of-12 at the foul line over the final few moments to close out an eight-point win.
Free throws were a large part of the game as the Maroon and Gray set single-game season highs in both makes (31) and attempts (39). CU shot an efficient 46.2 percent (30-for-65) from the floor and connected on nine three-pointers.
Fifth-year senior forward
Jevon Laidler, Tolbert and senior guard
Jordan Wooden all netted 19 points. Laidler added a career-best 16 rebounds. Diop recorded 14 points and sophomore forward
Ayden Ince rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10 points off the bench.
Laidler's double-double was the fourth of his career.
CU held a lopsided 51-31 advantage in rebounding. Besides Laidler's 16 rebounds, junior forward
Amare Smith and Tolbert both had seven boards.
The Mountain Lions have a quick turnaround as they host Virginia Union 5:30 p.m. Monday in the final non-conference of the year.
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