ATHENS, W.Va. – Sophomore forward
Kraig Gilbert's three-pointer as time expired lifted the Concord University men's basketball team to an 81-79 win over California (Pa.) Saturday afternoon at the Carter Center in a non-conference tilt.
Trailing throughout the game, CU (2-2) found itself down 79-74 with 1:34 remaining. The Mountain Lions came up empty on its possession after the Vulcans (1-3) took the advantage to seven. Concord shut down California (Pa.), and then junior forward
Boubacar Djigo cashed in a pair of free throws with 56 seconds remaining.
Still down three with 16 seconds remaining, Concord was forced to foul. Cal missed the frontend of a one-and-one. Junior forward
Anfernee Hanna sprinted down and hammered a dunk with 8.6 seconds left. Two seconds later, the Vulcans missed a second frontend. Gilbert secured the rebound, raced the floor in 6.5 seconds and let a three-pointer fly from the right wing with just over a second left.
Down six at halftime, 45-39, the Mountain Lions could not level with Cal until a reverse layup from freshman guard
Micah Young tied the game at 63-63 at the 8:32 mark. However, the Vulcans scored eight straight to restore a 71-63 lead less than two minutes later. A big three-pointer from Djigo with 3:25 remaining set up the late charge for Concord.
The Mountain Lions only led for a total of four minutes and 20 seconds. The lead swapped sides six times in the first half with six ties. CU's largest lead was 16-13 at the 15:02 mark of the first half before Cal controlled the rest of the first half.
Gilbert's three-pointer boosted him to a career-high 24 points. He added a pair of blocks. Djigo tallied a double-double of 18 points, a career high to go with 12 rebounds. Djigo also swatted two shots. Hanna scored 12 of his 16 points after halftime. Sophomore guard
Josiah Rickards netted nine points.
After shooting 41 percent in the first half, the Mountain Lions caught fire to shoot 55.6 percent in the second half (15-for-27). CU shot 47 percent for the game (31-for-66).
The Mountain Lions owned the paint with 48 points inside the lane.
Concord concludes its three-game homestand 3:00 p.m. Monday versus Virginia Union.
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