INSTITUTE, W.Va. — Andrew Shull delivered the best offensive performance of his college career on Wednesday night, scoring 31 points with nine three-pointers to eclipse the 23-point mark he set as a freshman at Pitt-Johnstown, but West Virginia State couldn't slow Concord's interior attack in a 97–76 setback inside the Walker Convocation Center. Shull's shooting display kept the Yellow Jackets within reach early in the second half, yet the Mountain Lions' efficiency in the paint and strength on the glass ultimately proved too much to overcome.
West Virginia State shot 27-of-65 from the field (41.5 percent) and connected on 11 threes. The Yellow Jackets totaled 28 points in the paint, 16 second-chance points and seven fastbreak points while committing 11 turnovers. Concord countered with 53.7 percent shooting, a 56–28 advantage in paint scoring and a 44–31 rebounding margin, turning 17 offensive boards into 22 second-chance points and adding 22 fastbreak points to pull away after halftime.
Shull powered the Yellow Jackets with a career-best 31 points, burying 9-of-13 from beyond the arc and 11-of-18 overall.
Ishmael Smith added 17 points and five assists, and
Aymeric Toussaint contributed eight points and a team-high seven rebounds. Concord was led by Kraig Gilbert's 22 points, Boubacar Djigo's 20-point, 15-rebound double-double and Anfernee Hanna's 18 points, while Micah Young chipped in 14.
Concord and West Virginia State traded early punches in a fast-paced first half, with both sides exchanging the lead 10 times in the opening minutes. Shull set the tone immediately, burying a three on State's first possession before adding two more triples as the teams moved shot-for-shot through the first media break. Concord countered with transition scoring, getting layups from Gilbert and Djigo and a pair of early threes to build a 17–13 edge.
State responded with makes from Smith and
Jaylen Subject at the line, and another surge from Shull, whose third three of the half pulled the Yellow Jackets within 21–18 near the 10-minute mark. But the Mountain Lions continued to push tempo, turning several State turnovers into runouts and scoring through Djigo, Hanna and Young to keep a two-possession cushion. Smith and Toussaint kept State close with drives to the rim, tying the game at 32–32 with 3:51 left.
Concord took control from there, closing the half on a decisive 13–4 stretch fueled by back-to-back threes from Gilbert and Young and a late layup from Eldon Terry. The Mountain Lions entered the locker room leading 45–36 after shooting 48 percent, hitting six threes and scoring 16 points in the paint, while State worked through seven turnovers and a 12–6 second-chance deficit despite Shull's hot start.
Concord quickly stretched its halftime lead behind early baskets from Gilbert and Hanna, using a pair of State turnovers and a Djigo fastbreak dunk to push the margin to 52–39 just two minutes into the half. Shull answered with one of the best shooting stretches of his career, drilling a three at 19:22 that ignited a personal run of five straight made shots. The junior guard buried a jumper at 15:48, then caught fire from deep, knocking down threes at 11:20, 10:48 and 9:09 before adding another in transition at 8:31. His outburst trimmed the deficit to 76–61, but Concord continued to punish the offensive glass and score inside, getting repeated putbacks from Djigo and a series of drives from Young to maintain control. The Mountain Lions' pressure produced nine points off turnovers and a commanding 40–16 edge in paint scoring for the half, allowing them to close out the 97–76 win.
West Virginia State will travel to Glenville State on Saturday, Dec. 6, for a 4 p.m. matchup against the Pioneers.
