Charleston, W.Va. — The University of Charleston men's basketball team pulled away in the second half to secure an 88-79 victory over Wheeling, breaking a 41-41 halftime score. After a tightly contested opening 20 minutes, the Golden Eagles steadily built momentum in the second half and closed the game with composure to earn the home win.
The Basics:
Location: Wehrle Innovation Center
Score: UC 88 WU 79
Records: Charleston 12-6 (8-4 MEC), Wheeling 11-7 (6-5 MEC)
 
How it Happened:
Charleston opened the second half trading baskets with Wheeling before beginning to gain control behind interior scoring and efficient ball movement. Matthew Shelton sparked the early run with a three-pointer and put back, while Thomas Hailey continued to pressure the defense inside with finishes at the rim. As the half progressed, Kaden Davis provided a major lift, knocking down a key three-pointer and converting multiple baskets in the paint to help Charleston take a multi-possession lead. Trevor Barrett and Ben Nicol added timely perimeter shots, allowing the Golden Eagles to stretch the margin to as many as 10 points midway through the half.
 
Defensively, Charleston delivered key stops when it mattered most, forcing turnovers and protecting the rim with several blocks from Davis and strong rebounding efforts across the lineup. In the final minutes, the Golden Eagles sealed the game with efficient free-throw shooting and fast break finishes, including a late dunk from Davis to put the game out of reach. Charleston outscored Wheeling 47–38 in the second half, showcasing depth and execution to close out the victory.
 
Up Next:
Charleston will head to the top team in the Mountain East Conference on Saturday for a road match with the West Liberty Hilltoppers slated for a 4:00pm tipoff.