CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The use of a 19-2 run out of the gate helped jump-start the University of Charleston's men's basketball team to its eighth straight victory, 83-64, over Shepherd University Thursday night.

Charleston's Mountain East Conference leading defense (69.9 points-per-game) held the second leading scoring offense (87.7 points-per-game) to just 64 points. UC took a 42-25 lead into halftime and never trailed in the second half. "Two things have been the key, resilience and chemistry. That's why we have been able to win eight in a row," UC's Head Coach Dewaine Osborne said.

Senior forward Xaiver Humphrey led Charleston with 22 points and seven rebounds, including three ferocious dunks in the first half that sent the crowd roaring. Fred Simpson tied a career high with 14 points and added six rebounds, while point-guard Denzel Douglas turned in a 13-point, five-rebound, five-assist performance. Sophomores Tino diTrapano's 10 points and Aleksander Kesic's 12 rounded out double-digit scorers, with Kesic turning in his third double-double by adding 12 rebounds.

Shepherd, which falls to 14-5 on the season and 9-4 in the MEC, was led by Brantley Osborne's 23 points, followed by Morgan McDonald's 16 points and seven rebounds.

UC moves to 13-4, taking outright possession of second place in the MEC with a 10-3 mark. Charleston is set to take on No. 1 West Liberty University on Saturday, Feb 1, in West Liberty, W.Va. Tip off is set for 4 p.m.