MBB: PACE SETTERS

CU FALLS TO DELIBERATE BOBCATS

Mike Boyd 3-Pointer
The Concord men's basketball team is an up-tempo outfit, averaging nearly 70 shots a game in becoming one of the highest-scoring teams in the WVIAC. 

West Virginia Wesleyan takes a more deliberate approach, attempting just 55 field goals per contest.

CU head coach Kent McBride knew that which team imposed its style would have the best chance to win  when the Mountain Lions hosted the Bobcats Wednesday night at the Carter Center.

“They're very disciplined.  They don't turn the ball over and they're going to want to slow us down,” McBride said before the game.  “They're going to want a game with a score in the 60s, and we're going to want one in the 80s.”

Unfortunately, the proverbial tortoise beat the hare as Wesleyan kept CU in check, limiting the Mountain Lions to their second-lowest output of the season in a 74-65 final.

The Bobcats attempted just 51 shots, but made 27 to shoot .529 from the field.  Concord tried 68 against WVWC's sticky defense, making 23 to finish at .338.

Wesleyan took an early 9-3 lead, but Concord would move ahead 23-19 with 6:10 before halftime.  The Bobcats answered with eight straight points and led 31-29 at the break.

WVWC scored the first four points of the 2nd half to go ahead by six, and they pushed their advantage to 13 points – 62-49 – with 4:17 left in the game.  The Mountain Lions closed within 71-65 with :26 left but ran out of time.

Freshman point guard Mike Boyd topped CU with 15 points.  Cory Willard chipped in 11.  Romel Kemp recorded a double-double of 11 points and 14 rebounds. 

Reggie Chambers led Wesleyan (12-6, 8-6) with 17 points.

Up next for Concord (10-9, 7-8) is a visit to Shepherdstown, WV, for a matchup against the WVIAC rival Shepherd Rams.  Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 pm at the Butcher Center.

The game will be broadcast on ESPN Radio 102.3 The Ticket (WMTD, Hinton/Princeton/Beckley) as part of a doubleheader with the CU-SU women's game, which begins at 2:00.  A link to The Ticket's webcast can be found on the top of the men's basketball homepage at www.cumountainlions.com.




Print Friendly Version