Pope scores 23 but ‘Cats fall to UC, 89-74

BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – Senior guard Tommie Pope powered his way to a career-high 23 points as the West Virginia Wesleyan (1-12, 0-7) men’s basketball team dropped a home game to Charleston (10-2, 6-1) by a score of 89-74 at the Rockefeller Center on Wednesday (Jan. 5) night.
 
WVWC Leaders
Jayden Hibbitt recorded a game-high 25 points. Hibbitt has eclipsed 20 points in seven games this season. Braeden McGrew and Pope each pulled down five rebounds. Pope led the ‘Cats with five assists and three steals.
 
Charleston Leaders
Keith Williams was the leading scorer for the Golden Eagles with 23 points. Eddie Colbert III crashed the glass for eight rebounds, distributed four assists and forced two steals. Colbert III contributed 19 points to his stat line.
 
Inside the First Half
McGrew and Pope hit the Bobcats’ first two field goals of the game to put WVWC up 4-0 early. The Golden Eagles responded by accumulating their best scoring run of 13 straight points to take a nine-point lead. Pope drilled his only three-point bucket of the night to end the UC scoring run. 
 
With WVWC trailing by 12 points, Tyler Slone connected on a three to put the ‘Cats within single digits. Hibbit put back a layup and brought the Bobcats within seven points with 3:33 remaining in the first half. Pope scored his 19th point of the first half on a floating jump shot to close the gap to four points. A McGrew made jump shot with 40 seconds to go put te Bobcats within two points. UC scored four consecutive points to end the first half. Wesleyan trailed 52-45 at the intermission.
 
Inside the Second Half
WVWC trailed by four points two times in the second half after successful field goals from Hibbitt and John Ibukunoluwa. Hibbitt scored five consecutive points and brought Wesleyan within four points at the 14:01 mark. UC answered with a six-point scoring run and regained a double-digit lead at the midway point in the second half. Hibbitt scored 14 points in the second half and went 6-9 from the field. The Golden Eagles secured a road victory by a score of 89-74.
 
Up Next
The Bobcats are scheduled to play on the road at West Virginia State on Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m.