Box Score
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Senior John White (Cleveland, Ohio/St. Peter Chanel) has had an assortment of roles for the University of Charleston men’s basketball team this season, but on Saturday night he was in the enforcer costume for the Golden Eagles in a 96-93 conference win over Ohio Valley.
White, who had seen little action the in the last two games, seemingly controlled the tempo and production of the Golden Eagle (7-9, 5-7) offense against the Fighting Scots (5-9, 5-6) as he was all over the court scrapping for loose balls and empowering his will upon the OVU defense.
UC came off the opening tip to control the game and build a nine point lead over the first ten minutes of play, yet the hot shooting of Ohio Valley (68%) and their precision aim from behind the three-point line (7-of-9) kept the Fighting Scots within reach. OVU held tight for the entire first half and pounced on early foul trouble for Charleston to take a three point advantage into the locker room at halftime.
Mark Downey’s team came out early for a little inter-squad practice at halftime as has become accustom this season and after breaking a good sweat running against their reserves the Golden Eagles turned the offensive attack back towards Ohio Valley. Charleston retook the lead just 1:15 into the second half, yet couldn’t put the pesky Fighting Scots away as they continued to stay hot from behind the arc shooting 63 percent.
OVU crept within three point midway thru the second half, but a minute and a half stretch of White seemingly set the tone for Charleston to show they have grown this season and will be the team that closes on this night. With the Fighting Scots eating into the Golden Eagle lead White hit one of two free throws, but the show came on the rebound of the missed foul shot as he elevated above the entire defense and two of his own players to slam the ball back thru the net. The rim rattling dunk created a deafening atmosphere within Eddie King Gym, yet White wasn’t done. Just a minute later after pulling down a defensive rebound White sprinted down the court and took a Philip Outley (West Monroe, La./South Plains College) pass behind the arc where the big man isn’t as accustomed to being left alone. He responded by nailing the shot from deep to create the pulse for Charleston down the stretch.
The visitors were not to be taken lightly as they persevered thru the tough Charleston defensive sets and turned a nine point deficit with 2:08 left to play into just a one point UC lead with 55 second left to play. After Outley went 4-of-8 at the charity stripe down the stretch Micah Mills did his part to threaten the University of Charleston’s hope of securing a much needed home win. Mills pulled OVU within two points with 20 seconds on the clock as the split the UC defense a kissed a nice shot of the glass. The Ohio Valley full court press forced a Charleston turnover to set up a chance for the visitors to tie or take the lead. For the second straight possession OVU turned to Mills who went for the win as the crowd held its breath his three-point shot touched every inch of the inside of the basket, yet couldn’t get enough net to fall as White secured the rebound with two seconds on the clock to seal the win.
White’s performance was not just his best of the season, but his 21 point and 11 rebound total set career-high marks. Outley showed his explosive capability is just his sixth game in a Golden Eagle uniform as his own career scoring mark with 20 points and four assists. Leading scorer Jon Liggins (Euclid, Ohio/Cuyahoga CC) was not absent on the night as he finished the night just under his season average with 15 points, yet managed the game with a team-high five assists and three steals.
UC gets little time to reflect on its performance this evening as the Golden Eagles hit the road on Monday, January 24 for a 7:30 pm contest against WVIAC opponent Bluefield State.
