CHARLESTON, W.Va. – UC men's basketball completed the season sweep of West Virginia State University on Saturday, spoiling the Yellow Jacket senior day with an 18-point win over their Kanawha Valley Rivals.
Just the Basics
SCORE: Charleston 86, West Virginia State University 68
TEAM RECORDS 
Charleston (20-8, 15-7 MEC)
WVSU (12-16, 9-13 MEC)
How it Happened
For much of the first twenty minutes of Saturday's season finale, UC and WVSU traded leads until the Golden Eagles started to distance themselves late in the half. Leading 32-30 with 4:10 left in the first half, the Golden Eagles went on a 9-1 run to build their largest lead of the half at 41-31 following a Seth O'Neal three-pointer with :04 remaining. The Yellow Jackets hit a buzzer-beater to close the first half, but Charleston still held a seven-point, 41-34, lead going to the locker at halftime.  Drew Rackley and paced UC with 14 first half points including 4-for-5 from behind the arc while Seth O'Neal dished out six of his eight assists through the first 20 minutes.
 
The Yellow Jackets cut the UC lead to three, 49-46, in the early stages of the second half but Charleston responded with a 10-0 run over a three-minute stretch to take control of their regular season finale. The Golden Eagles kept the Jackets at a comfortable distance as the hosts never got any closer than nine points over the final 13 minutes as Charleston won comfortably, 86-68, for their 20
thwin of the 2018-19 season.
 
With the win Charleston secured the #4 seed entering the 2019 MEC Basketball Tournament.  UC and #5 Concord will square off in Friday's MEC Quarterfinal
UC Game Leaders
Points – Drew Rackley (23), Adam Traore (18), Lamont McManus (13) 
Rebounds – Devon Robinson (8), Lamont McManus (7)
Assists – Seth O'Neal (8), Drew Rackley (4)
Blocks – Two tied with 1
Steals – Drew Rackley (3), Devon Robinson (2)
 
Up Next
The Golden Eagles open up the 2019 MEC Basketball Tournament on Friday, March 8
th in Wheeling, W.Va. Charleston will tip-off at 8:15 p.m. against Concord University in the WesBanco Arena.
 
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