CHARLESTON – In a thrilling Mountain East Conference showdown at H. Bernard Wehrle Arena, the University of Charleston secured a 68-66 victory over West Virginia Wesleyan Wednesday night. The Golden Eagles held off a late push from the Bobcats to improve to 15-9 overall and 11-6 in MEC play, while WV Wesleyan fell to 5-20 (2-15 MEC).
Wesleyan struggled to find rhythm from deep in the first half, shooting just 22.2% (2-of-9) from beyond the arc. Michael Batchelor helped kept the Bobcats in the game, draining five three-pointers en route to a team-high 19 points.
Charleston started the game with strong defensive pressure and efficient shooting, building a 35-27 lead by halftime. Guard Dwaine Jones played a key role in orchestrating the offense, dishing out 10 assists to complement his 11 points. The Golden Eagles’ balanced attack saw Matthew Shelton lead the way with 17 points, while Ja’Corey Lipkins added 13.
The Bobcats came out firing in the second half, shooting an impressive 57.1% from the field. Batchelor and Alex Mirhosseini (12 points) spearheaded the comeback, and with 8:19 left, Mirhosseini knocked down a three-pointer to tie the game at 55-55.
Wesleyan briefly took the lead at 62-58 with just over four minutes remaining, but Charleston answered. Down 66-63 with under a minute to go, the Golden Eagles’ Obinna Ugwuakazi converted a crucial layup off a feed from Jones to cut the deficit to one. Moments later, Jones himself drove the lane for the go-ahead basket, putting Charleston up 67-66 with 14 seconds left.
On Wesleyan’s final possession, Batchelor attempted a deep three to reclaim the lead but missed, and Lipkins secured the rebound, drawing a foul. He split his free throws, making it 68-66 with just one second on the clock. The Bobcats’ last-ditch effort resulted in a turnover as Charleston escaped with the win.
- Key Stats & Takeaways
- Charleston’s Defense Wins the Battle: Despite shooting just 20.7% from three (6-of-29), the Golden Eagles forced 19 turnovers and capitalized with 19 points off those miscues.
- Wesleyan’s Inside Struggles: While the Bobcats had success from deep in the second half, they were outscored 36-24 in the paint, a critical difference in the game.
- Clutch Performance: Charleston’s ability to execute in crunch time proved decisive, with Jones and Ugwuakazi delivering in the final moments.
The Bobcats host West Virginia State University on Saturday, Feb. 22. Tip is at 4 p.m.
