FAIRMONT — When you lose a second-team All-America selection and the nation’s second-leading scorer from your offense the obvious question heading into the following season is who is going to pick up the scoring slack.
Sunday evening Fairmont State’s men’s basketball team got an answer in its season opener against Maryland Bible College in the annual Global Science & Technology FSU Tip-Off Classic at the Joe Retton Arena. And the answer is — pretty much everyone else.
The Falcons placed five players in double figures in the scoring column and had a trio of others finish with seven points as they rolled to a 92-65 victory over Maryland Bible.
“We have more scorers this year and everyone can do a lot of different things and contribute to our team in a lot of different ways,” said FSU sophomore guard Steve Custis, who along with true freshman guard Isaac Thornton led the Falcons with 13 points and eight rebounds apiece. “That’s going to be a big key for us this season, getting a lot of balanced scoring.”
Thornton, who led Martinsburg High School to the West Virginia Class AAA state title last year, admitted he was a bit nervous in his first college game, but it didn’t show in his play on the court.
“The guys really helped me feel comfortable out there tonight,” said Thornton. “I thought I did okay. The speed of the game is so much quicker than it is in high school. That's been one of the biggest things I’ve had to adjust to.
“I’m really happy with my decision to come here. I love my teammates. I love the style of ball we play here and I’m hoping we can do some good things this season. We all know we've still got a lot of areas to improve in, especially on the defensive end of the floor.”
FSU wiped out an early 2-0 deficit with a 17-2 run and never looked back en route to the victory. The Falcons shot 56.5 percent from the field (35-of-62), opened a 19-point lead at the break and outrebounded Maryland Bible, 39-28.
“I think a lot of us were nervous out there at the beginning of the game, but we settled in pretty quickly and got it going,” said FSU junior college transfer Terrence Green, a 6-3 guard/forward who finished with 12 points, seven rebounds and three steals in his Falcon debut. “This was a nice win for us, but we’ve still got to pick it up, though, in all areas.
“The number one thing we emphasized this year coming into the season for us to be successful in our league is playing better defense. We still have a lot of work to do in that area. That and being a better rebounding team is crucial for us, but we especially know we've got to do a better job of defending.”
At times FSU did that last night, but on other occasions the Falcons had breakdowns on the defensive end of the floor. Maryland Bible guard Terry Hosley torched Fairmont’s defense for a game-high 26 points, most of which he got taking the ball to the rim. The Eagles also got 12 points and six rebounds from Mike Simon and 11 points from Al Carr.
Joining Custis, Thornton and Green in double figures in the scoring column for FSU were senior forward Dan Bruner, who finished with 11 points and junior forward Mike Henderson, who came off the bench and chipped in 10.
Fairmont also got seven points and a game-high eight assists from junior point guard Erv McFadden and seven points from both Michael Lopez and Ryland Newman.
The Falcons (1-0) return to action tonight in the Classic at 8 p.m. when they battle Urbana University (1-0). The Blue Knights came from behind to edge Glenville State Sunday in the opener, 83-82. GSC (0-1) and Maryland Bible will play this evening's first contest at 6 p.m.
Duane Cochrane
Balanced Falcons roll in opener, 92-65
- Duane Cochrane
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Lady Falcons halt UPJ’s winning ways: PHOTOS
One of the hottest teams in the West Virginia Conference paid a visit to the Joe Retton Arena on Wednesday evening and received a rude welcoming from Fairmont State’s Lady Falcons.
Pitt-Johnstown, winners of three in a row and eight of its last 10, got thoroughly dominated for 32 of the game’s 40 minutes as FSU halted the Lady Mountain Cats’ winning ways with an 88-66 victory. -
UPJ wins thriller over Falcons, 92-87
It was an electric atmosphere here Wednesday evening at the Joe Retton Arena.
Unfortunately, Fairmont State University’s men’s basketball team ran out of juice in the waning minutes and fell, 92-87, to visiting Pitt-Johnstown. -
Glenville completes season sweep of Falcons
Glenville State can make a living playing Fairmont State this season in men’s basketball.
That’s because half of the lowly Pioneers’ four victories this season have come at the expense of the Falcons.
Thursday evening here at the Jesse R. Lilly Gymnasium, Glenville State completed the regular-season sweep of Fairmont State, rolling to an impressive 80-59 victory over the floundering Falcons. -
Streaking Lady Pioneers hold off late FSU rally
Glenville State, the second-place team in the West Virginia Conference, shook off a horrid shooting performance in the first half, caught fire from the field in the final 20 minutes and rolled to a 92-78 victory over visiting Fairmont State here Thursday evening at the Jesse R. Lilly Gymnasium.
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Garrett, Lohr lead Lady Falcons past A-B: PHOTOS
Fairmont State possesses two of the more talented true freshmen in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference this season in Hailey Garrett and Emily Lohr.
Saturday afternoon at the Joe Retton Arena that duo combined for 36 points and nine rebounds to help lead FSU to 66-56 victory over visiting Alderson-Broaddus. -
Battlers top Fairmont State for 13th straight win
Despite heroic efforts from its dynamic duo of Steve Custis and Isaac Thornton, Fairmont State University’s men’s basketball team couldn’t derail red-hot Alderson-Broaddus here Saturday afternoon at the Joe Retton Arena.
The streaking Battlers posted an 81-70 victory over the Falcons for their 13th straight win. -
FSU gets much-needed win over Rams
Chris Thompson was perfect.
Steve Custis and Isaac Thornton were their usual selfs and Mike Hurd stepped up big time off the bench.
As a result, Fairmont State University’s men’s basketball team snapped a two-game losing streak and got a much-needed, 80-66, victory over visiting Shepherd University Wednesday evening here at the Joe Retton Arena. -
Lady Pioneers hold off late FSU rally: PHOTOS
Glenville State senior guard Beth Deren buried a trio of 3-point field goals in a span of less than a minute late in the second half to help the Lady Pioneers hold off a fierce Fairmont State rally and record an 88-80 victory here Saturday afternoon at the Joe Retton Arena.
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Cold-shooting Falcons fall to Glenville: PHOTOS
Marcus Ashton’s first game in a Glenville State College uniform was a memorable one.
The 6-3 standout guard, who was offered scholarships to both Rutgers and Georgetown coming out of high school, had been out of basketball for a couple of years, but was declared eligible this week and made a huge impact in the Pioneers’ 75-59 romp over Fairmont State here Saturday afternoon at the Joe Retton Arena. -
Snyder nets 33 as FSU tops West Liberty
Kaitlin Snyder’s 33-point effort helped sixth-place Fairmont State University knock off fourth-place West Liberty University here Thursday evening at the ASRC, 72-62.
The loss was only the seventh home setback for West Liberty at the ASRC since the 2004-05 season. - More Duane Cochrane Headlines
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