— Story by Taylor Kennedy
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — We have reached the halfway point in the Mountain East Conference season. Wednesday evening saw yet another night of craziness in the MEC.
Home teams went 3-2 Wednesday evening. Two teams scored over 90 points, including a 117-point performance from West Liberty.
Frostburg State 77, W.Va. State 71
The Frostburg State Bobcats snapped West Virginia State’s six-game winning streak. It was the Yellow Jackets’ first loss since the first game of the season. The Bobcats held W.Va. State to 71 points, which was a season-low.
Frostburg State jumped out to an early 20-6 lead before the first media timeout. State would answer with five unanswered points, but the Bobcats responded with a 7-0 run. Frostburg State saw its lead reach 25-points with under four minutes in the first half. The Bobcats went into the break leading by 16 points. That was the largest halftime deficit WVSU faced this season.
West Virginia State came out in the second half firing. The Yellow Jackets would go on a 10-0 run early in the second half. Frostburg State saw its double-digit lead vanish as WVSU tied the game at 55 with around eight minutes left in the game. Both teams would go back and forth the rest of the game, but a late push by the Bobcats gave them the win.
Frostburg State saw four players score double-figures, including a season-high 20 points from junior Jihar Williams. Junior Agyei Edwards recorded 15 points on 46% shooting from three. Sean Patterson and Jaylon Johnson both scored 12 points. Sophomore Anthony Pittman recorded his seventh double-double with a team-high 17 points and 16 rebounds.
West Liberty 117, Alderson Broaddus 78
West Liberty eclipsed the 100-point mark for the fourth time this season. The Hilltoppers have now won seven straight against the Battlers. Wednesday’s game marked the fifth time that West Liberty has held its opponent to under 80 points.
Both teams traded baskets and leads early on, but the Hilltoppers jumped out to a 10-point lead around the eight-minute mark in the first half. The Battlers would not trim the lead back down to single-digits the rest of the game. West Liberty saw its lead reach 32 points late in the first half. The Hilltoppers led 57-26 thanks to Will Yoakum, Dalton Bolon, and Pat Robinson combining for 43 of the team’s total.
West Liberty continued to score at ease in the second half. The Hilltoppers led by 49 points early in the second half after a slam from Marlon Moore Jr. AB would trim the lead down to 38, but it was too late.
West Liberty assisted on 32 of its 46 made field goals. The Hilltoppers shot 60% from the field, and they forced 24 Battlers turnovers. Junior Will Yoakum tied a season-high with 23 points. Four other West Liberty players recorded double-figures. Alderson Broaddus was led by junior KJ Walker with 13 points. David Shriver and Zach Simpkins both tallied 11-points.
Charleston 85, Fairmont State 70
The Golden Eagles earned their seventh straight win following an 0-2 start to the season. Wednesday’s win marked UC’s third straight win over Fairmont State. FSU’s 70 points were the lowest point total all season.
The Golden Eagles jumped out to an early double-digit lead before the first media timeout. UC would continue its early dominance as its lead reached 21 points late in the first half. UC’s defense held the Fighting Falcons to 29 first-half points, which is a season-low.
A 7-0 run by FSU trimmed UC’s lead to 14 around the 13-minute mark. Both sides would continue to trade baskets, but FSU would not reach any further. The Golden Eagles’ lead would not get under 15 points the rest of the game following FSU’s run.
UC shot the lights out from three shooting 12-21 (57%). The Golden Eagles assisted on 61% of its made field goals. Four different UC players scored double-figures, including Eddie Colbert leading all scorers with a season-high 23-points. The Fighting Falcons forced 19 UC turnovers. FSU shot a season-high 64% from the field. Junior Isaiah Sanders led FSU in scoring with 22 points.
Glenville State 91, Notre Dame College 80
The Pioneers get back into the win column after suffering their first loss this season on Monday. Glenville State picked up its third straight win over Notre Dame College, and its fourth home win this season.
Glenville State started the game hot making six of its first seven field goals. Notre Dame would respond with a 12-2 run lasting three minutes midway through the first half. The game would tie at 25 at the eight-minute mark. NDC would respond with a 9-0 run. The Falcons would hold onto the lead the rest of the half, and they would lead by three at the break.
Both teams would trade baskets until Glenville State regained the lead around the 15-minute mark. An 8-0 run by the Pioneers late in the second half gave them the lead. NDC would respond, but it would not be enough. Glenville State would outscore the Falcons 19-8 in the final four minutes.
Glenville State’s John Williams and Hegel Augustin combined for 54 of the team’s 91 points. Williams recorded a season-high 28 points. Junior Nick Edwards tallied 15 points. NDC had three players score double-figures, including an 18-point performance from junior Jordan Rolan.
Wheeling 85, West Virginia Wesleyan 77
Wheeling University earns its first win of the season after not playing the last two weeks. The Cardinals have now won 13 of the last 15 against W.Va. Wesleyan.
Wheeling and W.Va. Wesleyan would trade baskets throughout the first half. The Cardinals lead the whole half, but the Bobcats would not go away. Wheeling would finish the half outsourcing Wesleyan 8-2 for a 10-point lead heading into halftime.
Wesleyan would begin the second half on an 8-2 run. Wheeling would respond with a 14-0 run. The Bobcats would have a few short scoring runs, but the Cardinals would finish the game strong. Wheeling’s largest lead would reach 18 points in the second half.
Four Cardinal players scored double-figures, including senior Jarrett Haines with 21-points. Junior Jay Gentry recorded a season-high 19 points. Wesleyan had five players score double-figures. Jaylin Reed, Daylin Lee, and Ross Young combined for 51 of the team’s total points. Jaret Mullooly tallied 12 points, and former Winfield General Braeden McGrew tied a season-high 10 points.
Standings
North Division
West Liberty – 6-3
Fairmont State – 4-2
Alderson Broaddus – 4-5
Frostburg State – 3-5
Notre Dame College – 2-5
Wheeling U. – 1-4
South Division
Glenville State – 6-1
Charleston – 7-2
West Virginia State – 6-2
Concord – 4-3
Davis & Elkins – 2-4
West Virginia Wesleyan – 0-9