CHARLESTON, WV. – The No. 5 seeded Golden Eagles will be back in the Charleston civic center to face the No. 4 seeded Shepherd Rams. The Golden Eagles split the series against Shepherd this season taking the 82-80 victory in Charleston only to fall 59-75 in Shepherdstown.
The Golden Eagles (16-12, 12-10 MEC) are coming off a pair of wins last week over UVA-Wise and West Virginia State. Keir Anderson was named first-team All-MEC after averaging 16 points-per-game this season on a 53 percent average. The senior averaged 4.5 rebounds per game and has tallied 58 assists and 23 steals.
The Golden Eagles are heading into the matchups going 1-1 this season against the rams. This season Charleston averages 79 ppg shooting 47 percent on the season. The Golden Eagles defense holds their opponents to a 75 ppg, and held West Liberty to one of their lowest offensive performances of the season with just 87 points.
In his eighth season at the helm, veteran coach Justin Namolik has led the Shepherd Rams to a 16-12 record. The Rams have gone 4-4 in the final month of the regular season, and have gone 11-4 on their home court. First-Team All-MEC forward AJ Carr has led the Rams this season tallying 16 points and eight rebounds per game.
The Golden Eagles will start their MEC tournament run with an 8:15 p.m. tip-off against the Rams on Friday, March 2.
With the Win:
- Give the Golden Eagles 17 wins on the season, their best since Osborne's second year at the helm.
- The Golden Eagles will advance to their first semifinal since 2014.
On Shepherd:
The 16-12 rams have gone 11-4 at home on the year. The No. 4 seeded rams are averaging 79 points and 34 rebounds per game. The Rams have gone 4-4 in the final month of the regular season, losing their final two matchups to Glenville State and Fairmont State.
The Last Time:
SCORE: Shepherd 75, Charleston 59
TEAM RECORDS Charleston (14-12, 10-10 MEC), Shepherd (16-10, 12-8 MEC)
The Golden Eagles were led by Keir Anderson with 19 points and six rebounds. Senior Austin Howard (13) and Lamont McManus (10) joined Anderson as the Golden Eagles other two double-digit scorers.
Shepherd took an early command, leading 12-6 after six minutes of play, Charleston clawed back to take a 20-19 lead with 6:20 to play in the half. The Golden Eagles would hold on to head into the half with a 33-28 lead over the rams.
The Golden Eagles maintained their lead to start the second half, but the Rams would charge back in to take a 41-40 lead with 13:34 left to play. Shepherd took off on a 16-7 run to post a 12-point lead with just over six minutes left in regulation.
The Golden Eagles, unable to make a comeback fell in their final road game of the season to Shepherd 59-75.
Shepherd converted 17-20 from the free throw line in comparison to the Golden Eagles 13. The Golden Eagles suffered 14 turnovers allowing the Rams to tally 18-points in transition. The Ram's bench outscored the Charleston reserves 19-6.
UC Game Leaders
Points – Keir Anderson (19)
Rebounds – Lamont McManus, Keir Anderson (6)
Assists – Anderson (3)
Blocks – Jordan Smith (1)
