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West Virginia State University Athletics

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MBB2122 Pittman
Photo: Todd Griffith
73
Charleston (WV) CHA 22-6, 17-5 MEC
81
Winner West Virginia State WVSU 23-6, 18-4 MEC
Charleston (WV) CHA
22-6, 17-5 MEC
73
Final
81
West Virginia State WVSU
23-6, 18-4 MEC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Charleston (WV) CHA 31 42 73
West Virginia State WVSU 33 48 81

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | James Garcia, Sports Information Director

WVSU secures No.2 seed in MEC Tournament with win over Charleston

INSTITUTE, W.Va. – The West Virginia State University men's basketball team (23-6, 18-4 MEC) defeated crosstown rival Charleston (22-6, 17-5 MEC) by a final score of 81-73 on Saturday in front of a sold out crowd at the Walker Convocation Center. The Yellow Jackets finished in second place in the league standings and swept the Golden Eagles for the first time since joining the Mountain East Conference in 2013 with the result. WVSU also extended its current win streak to eight games.

Glen Abram, Ernest Jenkins, Jeremiah Moore, Bradlee Lewis, and Jihad Shockley were all honored before they played their final game on their home court. Additionally, a moment of silence was taken for Earl Lloyd on the seventh anniversary of his passing prior to the Senior Day ceremony.  

Third-year forward Anthony Pittman was the star of the show with 29 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and two steals. He shot 4-of-6 from three-point range. Abram also aided in the scoring effort with 21 points, which included his 2,000th career point scored as a Yellow Jacket. He added four steals. Fifth-year forward Jeremiah Moore picked up a double-double with 10 points and 11 boards. 

Shots flew but nothing landed until Charleston's Tyler Eberhart connected on a three-pointer with 18:41 showing on the game clock. Abram then tied it up at seven-apiece with his own three-pointer two minutes later. 

The contest remained tight up until the 12-minute mark when Pitmman knocked down a trey to put more than one basket between the two teams for the first time, 16-12. The slight lead was soon relinquished, however, when a quick five points from Shaunn Monroe of the Golden Eagles tied it back up at 19-all around the midway portion of the first half.

The back-and-forth scoring continued until UC banked six unanswered to go up by two baskets for the first time, 25-21, with around six minutes to go. WVSU did not let the deficit last long, however, as a 12-3 run followed that put the Yellow Jackets back in front, 33-28, after Moore tipped in a missed layup off the glass. Charleston made one more three-pointer in the final minute to keep the score close at halftime, 33-31.

For the first five minutes of the second half, West Virginia State was able to stay in front of UC but not by much. A lead change occurred briefly at the 13:45-mark when seven unanswered points by the Golden Eagles gave them a one-point advantage, 45-44. Pittman then connected on another shot from behind the arc 20 seconds later to get his team going again.

Baskets continued to be traded by the rivals until WVSU finally broke away with a two-minute shutdown of Charleston. The Yellow Jackets held UC scoreless from the seven-minute mark until around the five-minute mark while posting nine points. Abram drove in the lane for a layup to end the run and give his team a double-digit lead for the first time, 66-55.

In the last five minutes of the contest, West Virginia State only needed to hang on to win it. The Yellow Jackets were sent to the free throw line for 13 shots during the final stretch and converted on nine of them to see the game through.

The biggest difference on the final stat sheet was points in the paint. WVSU had 34 compared to only 18 by UC.

West Virginia State secured the No. 2 seed in the MEC Tournament with the win over Charleston. The Yellow Jackets will play at noon on Friday, March 4th in the quarterfinals to start their postseason journey. They will take on the winner of the first round matchup between Alderson Broaddus and Davis & Elkins. The tournament will take place in Wheeling, W.Va. at the WesBanco Arena. Tickets can be purchased here.
 
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