CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Davis & Elkins College fell to University of Charleston, 85-75, on Saturday afternoon in Mountain East Conference play at H. Bernard Wehrle Arena.

Vegas Evans led Davis & Elkins with 15 points, adding five rebounds and three assists. Nnadozie Okoroji scored 14 points on 4-of-7 shooting from 3-point range, and Malachi Hampton contributed 12 points on a perfect 4-for-4 effort from the free-throw line. Matthew Gray added 11 points and four rebounds, while Dontrell Jenkins finished with 10 points and five assists.

Davis & Elkins shot 50 percent from the field and 47.4 percent from beyond the arc in the first half, connecting on nine 3-pointers to stay within striking distance. Okoroji hit a pair of 3s during a key stretch midway through the half, and a late triple from Okoroji cut the deficit to five before Charleston closed the period on a 5-0 run to take a 52-42 lead into the break.

Charleston's Thomas Hailey proved difficult to contain, finishing with a game-high 36 points on 17-of-22 shooting while adding six rebounds. Ben Nicol chipped in 11 points, and Braden Chapman added 12.

The Golden Eagles extended their lead to as many as 16 early in the second half, but the Senators responded with a 10-4 run capped by a fast-break dunk from Gray to trim the margin to 60-50. Davis & Elkins later pulled within five at 70-65 following a three-point play from Tristan Starks with 6:30 remaining.

Charleston answered with an 8-2 spurt, including a 3-pointer from Kaden Davis, to push the advantage back to double digits. The Senators were unable to get closer than eight the rest of the way.

Davis & Elkins finished 11-of-28 (39.3 percent) from 3-point range and 26-of-28 (92.9 percent) from the free-throw line but were outrebounded 31-22 and committed 16 turnovers.

The Senators return to action Wednesday, Feb. 25, when they travel to Frostburg, Md., to face Frostburg State University in MEC play. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.