FAIRMONT, W. Va. – Davis & Elkins built a 12-point lead in the first half and answered every shot Fairmont State had to offer in the second frame to hold on for a thrilling 81-78 road victory against the Falcons on Saturday afternoon to open Mountain East Conference (MEC) play.
Donte Doleman was stellar for Davis & Elkins (3-3, 1-0 MEC) with a career-high 26 points on 10-of-12 shooting from the floor. The senior guard went 5-of-7 from beyond the arc, grabbed five rebounds and handed out three assists in 36 minutes of action.
Erkam Kiris added 22 points, converting nine of 12 shots from the floor, including a key and-one layup late in the second half to go along with five rebounds.
Fairmont State (2-1, 0-1 MEC) did not go quietly despite trailing by double digits in the first half on its home floor. The Falcons had a look to tie the game late in regulation, but could not convert despite 24 points from Cole VonHandord and 22 points for Dale Bonner. Seth Younkin was a force on the glass with 10 boards, while VanHandord finished 10-of-11 from the foul line.
D&E shot nearly 70% from the floor in the second half, compared to the Falcons 31.3% margin in the final 20 minutes. The Falcons were 0-for-11 from beyond the arc in the second half and the Senators dropped in 12 three-pointers on the afternoon.
Myles Monroe chipped in 13 points and seven rebounds for a solid all-around effort and
Mandela Baledrokadroka added eight points.
THE RUNDOWN
- Davis & Elkins (3-3, 1-0 MEC) – 81
- Fairmont State (2-1, 0-1 MEC) – 78
- Joe Retton Arena – Fairmont, W. Va.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Davis & Elkins was clicking on all cylinders offensively through the opening part of the first half, led by a 4-of-5 effort from the floor for Donte Doleman. Erkam Kiris added seven quick points, including an acrobatic up-and-under layup, and Teemu Tumanoff ripped a three as the Senators built a 28-16 lead with 9:37 left in the first.
- Myles Monroe ran the floor and made a layup off a pass from Kyle Leslie to break the press and take a 30-18 lead. Fairmont responded with the next five points, including a three from Cole VanHandorf, to trim the deficit to 30-23 with 6:20 left in the first half. Emre Yildirim ended a cold stretch for the Senators with a three from the left wing for a 33-26 lead. An 8-0 run for Fairmont gave the Falcons the lead at 34-33 with 2:50 remaining in the first half.
- The Falcons clamped things down defensively and chipped away before building a 41-35 lead at the half. Baledrokadroka stepped into a three in the second half to trim the deficit to one at 43-42 with 17:11 showing on the second half clock before Doleman pushed the Senators in front with a layup. Myles Monroe rattled home a three to cap a 12-0 run for a 49-43 edge, forcing a Fairmont timeout with 15:26 left in the second half.
- Tumanoff ended a brief Fairmont surge following the timeout with a three for a narrow 52-51 edge. Each team had a stretch with a lid on the basket, struggling to convert offensively, before Dale Bonner made a jumper to hand the Falcons a 59-55 lead at the under-10 media timeout. Monroe made the stick-back to make the score 61-57 in favor of the Falcons and Doleman followed it up with a deep three to trim the deficit to just one.
- Following a Fairmont offensive foul, Yildirim nailed a three from the right wing to take a one-point lead at 63-62. Doleman stepped into a clutch three for a 72-67 lead and the senior delivered another jump shot off the timeout for a 78-72 lead. Trailing by two, Fairmont employed its full court press, forcing a turnover and sinking two foul shots to tie the score at 78. The Senators broke the full court pressure the next time they had the ball, pushing the pace ahead to a streaking Kiris, who made the layup and drew the foul. Leading 81-78, the Senators locked things down defensively to hold on for the conference victory.
GAME NOTES
- Doleman was locked in offensively in the early portions of the first half, sticking three three-pointers and recording 11 points within the first 15 minutes of the game. It was the first 20-point game for Doleman in his D&E career, as he brought his game to another level in the second half.
- Fairmont State erased a 12-point deficit with some timely shooting to take its 34-33 lead with 2:50 left in the first half. The Falcons used a 15-0 run, part of a larger 23-5 run over the last eight minutes to end the opening half.
- D&E had just one foul shot attempt in the first half, coming early on a three-point play chance from Kiris at the 17:23 mark.
- The Senators hit eight of their final nine field goals and three of their last four three-point attempts to salt the victory away.
- Saturday's win was a big bounce back effort after last time out, where the Senators were defeated at home by Cal U (Pa.). D&E has won three of its past four outings.
- D&E earns the conference victory in its first conference contest as a member of the MEC.
UP NEXT
- D&E returns home to welcome Frostburg State for Scout night on Tuesday, November 26 at 7:30 PM from the McDonnell Center.
SOCIAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
