Box Score
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The University of Charleston men’s basketball team added another close game to the loss column Thursday night as the Golden Eagles let a nine point advantage slip away over the final six minutes of the game in a 79-76 loss to conference opponent Shepherd.
The visiting Rams (8-10, 5-8) managed to shoot 7-for-11 from three-point range in the first half to counter a hot shooting Golden Eagles (7-11, 5-9) team that was lighting up the nets at 57 percent. Charleston kept its averages high by feeding the ball into its taller lineup to dominate the post in the first half; owning a 24-to-14 scoring advantage in the paint for the opening half. Shepherd was able to hang around to counter the UC inside power with 20 points off turnovers as the Golden Eagles were unable to secure error free trips down the court. The teams went into the locker room with the game knotted at 40 points apiece.
The second half saw the teams continue to counter each other’s personnel moves as the lead jockeyed back and forth seven times in the first ten minutes of the closing stanza. At the 10:36 mark, senior James Eversley (Richmond, Va./VCU) would jam home an alley-oop from classmate Jon Liggins (Euclid, Ohio/Cuyahoga CC) beginning what would become a 10-0 Charleston run over the next four minutes. Liggins and Eversley would lead the charge for Charleston on the evening with 16 points apiece.
Shepherd at no point let the late deficit sit heavy on their shooting hand as the Rams fought back into the game with tough defense and nailing three-point shots to cut the Charleston advantage to just four points with 2:10 left on the clock. A hard fought layup from Ibrahim Marone (Trotwood, Ohio/Madison) would hand UC its last lead of the night (75-74) with 1:31 on the clock. After a quick timeout from coach Justin Namolik Shepherd moved the ball down the court quickly setting up a three-pointer by Marcus Pilgrim who netted the shot to give SU a two point advantage with 1:13 to play.
After leading scorer Chad Moore sank a free throw with 35 second on the clock the University of Charleston used the remaining time to setup a play to Liggins. Liggins got brought the ball past the half-court mark and shook off a Shepherd defender for a long-range jumper for the tie, but the comeback was not to be as the ball fell just short of the net in turn ending the contest for UC with the score set at 79-76.
Key reserve guard Philip Outley (West Monroe, La./South Plains College) was just behind Liggins and Eversley as he contributed 13 points and three assists in the contest, while starters John White (Cleveland, Ohio/St. Peter Chanel) and Marco Richardson (Canton, Ohio/Northland CC) each tallied 10 points.
Charleston doesn’t get long to ponder the loss as the Golden Eagles get back on the court as they host Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday, January 29 for an 8:00 pm contest.
