Buckhannon, WV – In a game filled with momentum swings, clutch performances, and a dramatic finish, Concord edged West Virginia Wesleyan 89-87 in an overtime thriller at the Rockefeller Center on Wednesday night.
Concord guard
Kollin Tolbert delivered a career-defining performance, torching the Bobcats for
36 points on 12-of-19 shooting, while going a perfect
12-for-12 from the free-throw line. Tolbert's last-second layup in overtime proved to be the game-winner, capping off an electric night for the Mountain Lions.
The game saw
eight ties and nine lead changes, with both teams exchanging leads in the final minutes of regulation and overtime.
Concord built a
35-30 halftime lead, thanks in part to the inside-outside play of
Corey Boston (19 points, 9 rebounds) and
Kraig Gilbert (11 points, 6 rebounds). However,
West Virginia Wesleyan came roaring back, riding an explosive second half from
Alex Mirhosseini, who drilled
five three-pointers en route to
29 points.
Wesleyan outscored Concord
47-42 in the second half, briefly taking the lead in the final seconds. But Boston's free throws forced overtime at
77-77, setting up the dramatic finish.
The extra period was a showcase of resilience. Mirhosseini's clutch
three-pointer tied the game at
87-87 with just
12 seconds left. But Tolbert had the final say, driving to the rim for the game-winner with
one second remaining, securing the hard-fought
89-87 victory.
Key Takeaways
- Tolbert's Career Night: 36 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals – pure dominance.
- Boston's All-Around Game: 19 points, 9 rebounds, 3-of-4 from deep.
- Mirhosseini's Shooting Display: 29 points, 5-of-9 from three.
- Bench Production: Concord's bench outscored Wesleyan's 15-17, with key minutes from Boubacar Djigo (5 points, 5 rebounds).
- Free Throw Advantage: Concord shot 81.3% (26-32) from the line, a decisive factor in the win.
With the victory,
Concord improves to 14-7 overall and 11-4 in the Mountain East Conference, while
West Virginia Wesleyan falls to 5-18 (2-13 MEC).
The Bobcat men travel to Glenville State University Saturday, Feb. 15 for a 3 p.m. start.
