Box Score Wheeling, W.Va. –#3 Charleston faced off with the #6 Glenville State Pioneers in the quarterfinal round of the Mountain East Conference tournament Friday afternoon.
The Basics:
Location: WesBanco Arena
Score: UC 65, GSU 77
Records: UC 18-10 (14-6 MEC) Glenville State 17-12 (10-10 MEC)
How it Happened:
Charleston won the tipoff and MEC first team selection Dwaine Jones put the Golden Eagles on the board with a layup. The teams then traded several missed shots before Dwaine Jones sank his second bucket of the contest to put Charleston ahead 4-0. The Pioneers finally got on the scoresheet with a three and then two free throws to take the short lead before MEC freshman of the year Ja'Corey Lipkins found his first points of the contest from beyond the arc. Ayinde Taylor and Trevor Barrett also etched their names into the stats, Charleston with a 12-7 lead before Glenville was sent to the line for the and-one opportunity.
After the media timeout, Charleston extended their lead after a forced turnover and a CJ Meredith corner three to jump out 17-9 over the Pioneers. As the whistle blew for the media timeout, Charleston held a 20-13 lead, Zach Loveday headed to the line for two shots where he went 2-2.
The Pioneers then went on a 9-2 run, bringing the score to 24-22 in favor of Charleston, forcing Golden Eagles head coach James Long to call a timeout. The Pioneers then capitalized on a defensive rebound with a three, and then a second defensive board with a layup and-one opportunity. After the made free throw, the Pioneers held the lead 28-24 over the Golden Eagles.
Charleston tied the contest up at 28-28 with 36.8 seconds remaining in the half, Glenville with possession and calling a timeout to draw up a play. The Golden Eagles got the stop but could not score before the end of the half, heading to the locker rooms all tied up at 28-28.
It was the Pioneers who led off the scoring in the second half, a three pointer to once again take the lead over Charleston. Glenville State went on to extend their lead, scoring ten unanswered int eh second half, 38-28 Glenville State. The teams traded points for the next several minutes of the half, Charleston unable to cut the deficit, trailing 51-39.
Charleston started to inch their way back with a 7-0 run, the Pioneers scoring a layup right before the under ten media timeout was called. With 9:24 left to play, Glenville led 53-46. Coming out of the timeout, CJ Meredith swished home a three, but the Pioneers responded with a bucket of their own.
As time ran off the clock, the Golden Eagles struggled to find a rhythm, Glenville holding the lead at 65-57 with just 4:10 left in the contest. Charleston eventually fell to the Pioneers 77-65.
