Box Score

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A cold shooting hand and rough first half was too much to overcome for the University of Charleston men's basketball team as Fairmont State held off a late charge for a 71-61 victory, Saturday evening.

Leading scorer Terrell Lipkins (Canton, Ohio) hit a contested jumper with 15:18 left in the opening half of play to give Charleston a 9-7 advantage early. It was what followed that has been unheard of from the high-powered Golden Eagles squad this season. UC would not get the bottom of the net for another five minutes of play allowing Fairmont State to make a 16-0 run, which slid the home team into a deep deficit they would have to counter for the rest of the evening.

UC hit just 10-of-29 attempts from the floor in the first half to hinder any comeback attempt, while FSU was red-hot shooting 63 percent (20-for-32) as they held the double-digit advantage for a 44-27 lead headed into the break.

The second half offered few answers to Charleston's shooting woes as Fairmont continued to get solid looks in the paint. The Fighting Falcons opened the game to as much as a 21 point difference with only 10 minutes left in the game.

In a last-ditch effort that nearly worked head coach Mark Downey sent his guards into the toughest, fastest press defense implemented this season as they played with a sort of recklessness that wasn't pretty but very effective. The press not only limited the hot-shooting Falcons attempts, but created multiple turnovers in the backcourt leading to easy baskets as UC quickly chopped into the deficit.

Hayden Annett (Portland, Australia) brought the Eddie King Gym crowd to their feet as a comeback was brewing when he drilled a three-pointer with 5:04 remaining to get the University of Charleston within 63-56. The excitement was short-lived though as it just was not the Golden Eagles' night with shot after shot rimming out and FSU hit the much needed free throws in the final two minutes of play to seal the 71-61 win.

Aleksander Kesic (Belgrade, Serbia) had a career-high 19 points in the defeat with Lipkins following on his heels as the only other double-digit scorer with 18. Quincy Washington (Florence, SC) benefited from the second half press with a game-high four steals to assist in keeping the Golden Eagles within reach late.

UC managed to force 20 turnovers by Fairmont State, yet lost the battle of the boards 46-to-33 on the evening.

With a fast turnaround Charleston gets little time to ponder the results as Davis and Elkins visits Eddie King Gym on Monday, Dec. 17 at 7:30 pm.