CHARLESTON, W.Va. – In their final game in the Wehlre Innovation Center Seniors, Adam Traore and Josh Floyd contributed a combined 30 points in the Golden Eagles (18-8, 13-7 MEC) 74-69 victory over the Shepherd University Rams (13-13, 9-11 MEC). 

Just the Basics
SCORE:  Charleston 74, Shepherd 69
TEAM RECORDS:
Charleston (18-8, 13-7 MEC)
West Liberty (13-13, 9-11 MEC)

How it Happened
Senior forward, Adam Traore finished with team high 17 points completed a three-ponts play with 16 seconds left on the clock to put the Golden Eagles up 74-67 and seal the win for UC giving the Golden Eagles their best record at home since head coach Dwaine Osborne has led the program. 
 
The Golden Eagles posted a 12-3 record in the Innovation center this year, a best since the 2011-2012 season when Charleston went 11-3 at home. 
 
The Golden Eagles went into the beak leading by just a point (32-21), but sophomore forward Lamont Mcmanus slammed the bal through the rim to open up the second half giving UC the three-point lead.  The Golden Eagles posted a ten-point lead after seven minutes of play in the second half. The rams began to claw their way back into the game, bringing the score within five-points at the 10-minute mark.

Traore played a balance game scoring nine of his 17 points in the first half. with his three-point play in the final seconds of the game pushing UC over the edge to victory. The senior went 4-for-7 from the field, hitting 9-of-11 free throws in the win. 
 
Derek McKnight hit a jumper with just over one minute to play to bring the Rams within two points of the Golden Eagles, but that is as close as Shepherd would get as the Charleston would pull further away in the final minute. 
 
Drew Rackley would finish with 14 points and three assists, and two steals in the Golden Eagles effort.  Senior guard Josh Floyd rounded out his final game at home with 13 points, three rebounds, and two assists. 

The first half of play was balanced for both teams. The Golden Eagles came out swinging with a dunk by McManus to put UC on the board first, Charleston took a four-point lead before Jon Preston brought the score to 4-3 opening scoring for the Rams with a shot from behind the arc. Charleston briefly lost their lead in the first half, but a three pointer from Floyd with just under seven minutes to play put the Golden Eagles back on top. The Rams, however, were never too far behind. Charleston shot 48 percent from the field to the Rams 38, but Shepherd had the edge from behind the arc in the first half. 
 
Rackley played a team high 34 minutes, while sophomore point guard Seth O'Neal tallied 32 minutes, and 11 points in the win.
 
 UC Game Leaders
Points – Adam Traore (17)
Rebounds – Devon Robinson (11)
Assists – Drew Rackley, Seth O'Neal (3)
Blocks – Robinson (1)
Steals – Rackley (2)
 
Up Next
Charleston closed out its' home schedule with Saturday's victory, and will travel to UVA-Wise on Thursday, February 28 to face the Cavaliers at 7:30 p.m.