Concord Opposes Mercer County Rival Bluefield State in Road Tilt

Concord Stats - Bluefield State Stats - Live Stats - Live Video - Complete Game Notes

ATHENS, W.Va. - The Concord University men's basketball team renews its rivalry with fellow Mercer County foe Bluefield State 7:00 p.m. Monday night on the road inside Ned Shott Gymnasium in the second meeting between the teams this season.

LIVE COVERAGE
The Bluefield State Sports Information Department will handle live statistics and live video of the game. 

Live Stats
Live Video 

SERIES HISTORY: Concord leads 71-38

Last Five Meetings vs. Bluefield State
November 19, 2025: Concord 61 - Bluefield State 50 (Athens, W.Va.)
February 3, 2025: Concord 104 - Bluefield State 95 (Athens, W.Va.)
November 20, 2024: Bluefield State 103 - Concord 88 (Bluefield, W.Va.)
February 5, 2024: Concord 82 - Bluefield State 72 (Bluefield, W.Va.)
November 15, 2023: Concord 94 - Bluefield State 91 (Athens, W.Va.)

Concord at a Glance
Overall Record: 10-8
MEC Record: 7-5
Home Record: 5-4
Away Reocrd: 5-3
Neutral Record: 0-1
Last Five: 1-4
Streak: L4

Bluefield State at a Glance
Overall Record: 8-12
CIAA North Record: 7-3
Home Record: 5-3
Away Record: 3-8
Neutral Record: 0-1
Last Five: 4-1
Streak: L1
 

Concord	Statistical Category	Bluefield State
10	Wins	8
83.8	Points Per Game	67.6
82.4	Points Allowed Per Game	68.1
40.1	Rebounds Per Game	35.7
14.0	Assists Per Game	10.7
4.2	Blocks Per Game	2.4
5.8	Steals Per Game	5.6
45.3	Field-Goal Percentage	41.2
35.2	Three-Point Percentage	32.3
77.7	Free-Throw Percentage	70.9

Concord Leaders
Points Per Game: Kraig Gilbert (16.3), Boubacar Djigo (15.2), Anfernee Hanna (14.6), Micah Young (14.3)
Rebounds Per Game: Boubacar Djigo (13.1), Kraig Gilbert (5.0)
Assists Per Game: Khamani Wertz (3.4), Josiah Rickards (2.4)
Blocks Per Game: Kraig Gilbert (1.7), Boubacar Djigo (1.1)
Steals Per Game: Micah Young (0.9)
Field-Goal Leader: Boubacar Djigo (59.4)
Three-Pointers Made: Kraig Gilbert (36)
Free-Throw Percentage: Anfernee Hanna (82.6)

Bluefield State Leaders
Points Per Game: Myles Pierre (17.4), Ellija Preddy (12.9), Anthony Davenport (10.5)
Rebounds Per Game: Anthony Latty (8.2), Anthony Davenport (5.2)
Assists Per Game: Ellija Preddy (5.1)
Blocks Per Game: Anthony Latty (1.1)
Steals Per Game: Ellija Preddy (1.5), Myles Pierre (1.2)
Field-Goal Leader: Ellija Preddy (41.9)
Three-Pointers Made: Myles Pierre (61)
Free-Throw Percentage: Myles Pierre (77.3)

FREE THROW FRENZY
In Saturday's defeat at Frostburg State, the Mountain Lions took 19 trips to the foul line as they knocked in 16 free throws for a percentage of 84.2 percent. Sophomore guard John Gabbert led the way by hitting 5-of-6 free-throw attempts. Fellow sophomore guard Josiah Rickards was 4-for-4 at the charity stripe. Rickards is 27 for his last 29 at the foul line which dates back to Concord's game at Fairmont State December 20. As a team, Saturday marked the 11^th time this season that CU has made at least 80 percent of its free throws. The Mountain Lions lead the Mountain East Conference in foul shooting (77.7 percent) and they rank 16^th in Division II in free-throw percentage. Individually, junior forward Anfernee Hanna (fifth/82.6 percent) and Rickards (sixth/81.4 percent) are two of the best foul shooters in the MEC. Concord was 13-for-15 from the foul stripe in a 61-50 win over Bluefield State November 19.

SUPPLEMENTAL REBOUNDING
CU owned a 39-36 rebounding edge at Frostburg State. Junior forward Boubacar Djigo continued his dominance on the glass, pulling down 13 rebounds—right at his season average. It was the Cleveland Ohio native's 13^th game this winter with at least 12 rebounds. However, Djigo received significant help on the boards against FSU. Senior guard Savier McCall grabbed a career-best seven rebounds—his previous career high came against Bluefield State in November. Saturday was McCall's first career start in the Maroon and Gray. Sophomore forward Corey Shumate chipped in four rebounds in nine minutes off the bench. The Mountain Lions have been better on the glass than the opponent in 12 games this season, sporting a record of 9-3. CU is top 50 in Division II in rebounding margin, +5.3.

RETURN TO FORM
The Mountain Lions started the season a bit inconsistent from three-point range, hitting above 35 percent from three-point range three times in the first seven games. But, over the next seven games Concord found its rhythm by connecting on 40 percent or better in six contests. On Monday, CU is seeking to get back to its form from late December and early January after not shooting better than 30 percent from beyond the arc in the last four games. Freshman guard Micah young has remained consistent from three-point distance as over the last five games he is shooting 38.8 percent. Junior guard Khamani Wertz rebounded from an 0-for-5 against Glenville State to go 2-of-4 from deep at Frostburg State Saturday afternoon. Hanna also stuck two three-pointers at FSU. While only attempting 43 three-pointers this season, Hanna is shooting a respectable 37.2 percent from three-point range.

DEFEND THE PAINT
In locking down the Big Blues in November, Concord was particularly stingy on two-point attempts. BSU shot 29.9 percent (20-for-67) overall, but the Mountain Lions held Bluefield State to 29.6 percent on shots inside the arc. CU gave up a season-low 22 points in the paint in the win, and surrendered just a percentage of 33.0 (11-for-33) on shots in the paint by Bluefield State. Offensively, the Big Blues only attempt 19.6 three-pointers per game this season, and only shoot 32.3 percent from three-point distance. And the Big Blues only make 6.4 triples per game which is in the bottom 75 in Division II. BSU is making 45.5 percent of its shots from two-point range. Defensively, the Mountain Lions are giving up 49.8 percent on shots inside the three-point line.

ONE AND DONE
Even though Concord had a 46-43 rebounding edge against Bluefield State in November, one advantage the Big Blues had were on the offensive glass. BSU tore down 15 offensive rebounds that led to 21 second-chance points. Conversely, the Mountain Lions only had 11 offensive rebounds that totaled nine second-chance points. Djigo had three offensive rebounds while Hanna and McCall each had two in the November meeting. For the season, CU allows 13.7 offensive rebounds per game, but over the last eight games have only allowed 12 or more twice. On the other side, Bluefield State averages 13 offensive rebounds per game and also allows 13 offensive boards to the opposition.  Concord has pulled down 13 or more offensive rebounds in 10 games this season, including 13 at Frostburg State Saturday afternoon.

START A STREAK
The Mountain Lions have won 12 of the last 13 games versus Bluefield State—the only loss in that stretch was November 2024 at Bluefield State, 103-88. The only three players expected to suit up in Monday's game that played at Ned Shott Gymnasium last season are Djigo, Rickards and sophomore guard Brendan Hoffman. Rickards came off the bench and scored nine points in 19 minutes last season at BSU. Hoffman did not score in nine minutes in a reserve role while Djigo only played one minute. The Mountain Lions shot 48.5 percent from the floor last season on the road, but 19 turnovers and 11 Bluefield State three-pointers were the ultimate difference in the contest. Rickards was crucial in last season's home win over BSU with 15 points and seven rebounds in 37 minutes.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
9- Concord had won nine straight games at Bluefield State before last season's loss.

19- Rebounds grabbed by Djigo versus Bluefield State in November.

50- Points allowed by CU in November were the fewest in any game since December 2014.

SCOUTING THE BIG BLUES
After starting the season 1-8, Bluefield State has won seven of its last 11 games. BSU had a four-game winning streak end Saturday on the road with a 60-59 loss against Virginia State. Among the mutual opponents for the county rivals are Glenville State, West Virginia State and Virginia Union. During Bluefield State's winning streak, it picked off Virginia Union, 75-57. Myles Pierre is averaging 17.4 points per game. Ellijah Preddy scores 12.9 points per game while Warren Mouganda, who did not play against CU in November, is netting 13.0 points per game to go with 5.5 rebounds per contest