ELKINS, W. Va. - Fairmont State avenged their earlier season loss at the hands of Davis & Elkins in a thrilling 76-73 game on Wednesday night in the McDonnell Center.

Emre Yildirim's hot hand gave the Senators a 9-2 lead early, but the Falcons quickly cut the deficit to one point midway through the first half. Fairmont State would go on a 17-0 run to take a 34-20 lead, but the Senators quickly struck back to make it a 37-35 game. Fairmont State closed out the half with two more baskets, but Patrick Wilburn stemmed the rally in the second half. Tyler Twyman's three-pointer tied the game at 53 with 13:53 remaining.

The Falcons looked to pull away, but three-pointers from Wilburn and Twyman kept the game close. A 7-0 run gave the Falcons their largest lead of the night with just under four minutes remaining, but Erkam Kiris sank two free-throws and Donte Doleman hit two three-pointers to spark a rally that came up just short in a thrilling finish.

Doleman and Wilburn finished with 17 points each, with Dale Bonner of Fairmont State finishing as the game-high scorer with 22 points. Wilburn was the highest rebounder with 13 boards to complete the double-double. Yildirim and Kiris finished with 13 points and 3 blocks each.

THE RUNDOWN

• Fairmont State 76 (12-4, 7-4 MEC)
• Davis & Elkins (5-12, 4-7 MEC)
• The McDonnell Center - Elkins, W. Va.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Yildirim came out firing with three buckets from long range during the first five minutes of the game to give the Senators an early lead.
• Fairmont State quickly rebounded to go on a 17-0 run to take the lead and control of the game.
• D&E rallied and kept the game close towards the end of the first half, and a valiant second half.
• Twyman hit a game-tying three-pointer with just under 14 minutes remaining to knot the game at 53, but a 7-0 Falcons run put Fairmont State up 60-53.
• A pair of Doleman threes made it a two-point game late, but the Falcons held off D&E's rally to close out the victory.

GAME NOTES 

• The shorthanded Senators again dressed just seven players, fighting valiantly behind a balanced scoring attack.
• Wilburn set a new career-high in rebounds, finishing the night with 13.
• Yildirim set a career-high with three blocks.
• Twyman finished with eight points, but his two clutch three-pointers kept the game within reach late.
• Mandela Baledrokadroka and Kiris finished with a team-high six assists apiece.

UP NEXT

• D&E continues their home stand on Saturday against West Virginia Wesleyan as part of a doubleheader, as former Senators' head coach Nick Patella returns to The McDonnell Center for the first time as the Bobcats' head coach. Tip-off is set for 4:00 P.M., immediately following the women's game as part of a Code Red doubleheader.