Box Score

WHEELING, W. Va.  – The University of Charleston Golden Eagles men's basketball team fell to the Fairmont State Falcons in the Mountain East Conference Semifinals on Saturday night. The Falcons led by Isaiah Sanders took the victory over Charleston and will play in the Mountain East Conference Championship on Sunday.  

JUST THE BASICS 
Location: Wheeling, W. Va.  
Score: Fairmont State 84, Charleston: 69  
Records: Golden Eagles: (15-3), Falcons: (14-4) 

HOW IT HAPPENED 
Fairmont State jumped to an early 9-3 lead in the opening five minutes of the first half as Fairmont's Isaiah Sanders led the charge with 7 points.  Shaunn Monroe brought the Golden Eagles within 5 points as he knocked down a three at the 13:20 mark to bring the score to 11-6, on the next possession Tyler Eberheart knocked down a bucket from behind the arc to bring the Golden Eagles within two.  

At the under-10 media timeout, the Golden Eagles were just a point behind the Falcons with a score of 16-15. Sanders still leading the effort with 10 of the Falcons 16 points. Charleston kept the game close as it was Sanders again who gave the Falcons the six-point lead with just under seven minutes to play in the half. Keith Williams knocked down back-to-back threes with 4:40 to play to bring the Golden Eagles within two, before Shaunn Monroe hit a jumper to tie the game up at 25-25.  

The score remained set at 27-25 for nearly two minutes before Sanders again increased the Falcon lead to 30-25. The two teams went into the break with the Falcons leading the Golden Eagles 35-29.  

Gable opened the second half scoring, with a three in transition to bring the Golden Eagles withing three of the Falcons. As the second half continued, the Falcons went on a 9-0 run to take the 48-36 lead over the Golden Eagles.  

With 12:58 to play the Golden Eagles found themselves in a 14-point deficit but scored on back-to-back possessions to come back with 10-points of FSU. Seth O'Neal knocked down a three with 9:40 to play to bring the Golden Eagles within 9 points, but Sanders would drive the lane on the next possession to keep them with the double-digit advantage over the Golden Eagles. After the under-10 media timeout, Monroe knocked down a pair of free-throws to bring UC within nine. The Falcons would hit threes on the next two possessions to increase their lead to 14, with 6:44 to play in the contest.  

At the under-5 media timeout, the Golden Eagles still found themselves in a 14-point hole with 4:38 to play.  

UC Leaders 
Keith Williams – 18 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal 
Lamont McManus - 13 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists  
Seth O'Neal - 17 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals 

Fairmont State Leaders  
Sanders – 31 points, 4 rebounds, 6 steals 
Bonner – 22 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists 
Vanhandorf – 15 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists 

UP NEXT 
Charleston will await the NCAA Division II Selection show announcement on Sunday. 

--UC--