FAIRMONT — On paper, Monday night’s game with visiting Urbana University in the Global Science & Technology Fairmont State University Tip-Off Classic at the Joe Retton Arena certainly left a lot to be desired.
However, in the only stat column which counts the Falcons came up big.
FSU overcame an 18-rebound deficit on the boards, a horrid free throw shooting performance and some poor field goal shooting in the opening half to record a 74-60 win over the Blue Knights.
The victory improved the Falcons to 2-0 on the year. Urbana fell to 1-1.
“We definitely came out slow and didn’t do a whole lot of things right, especially early on,” said FSU senior forward Dan Bruner, who posted his first double-double of the season with a game-high 17 points and a team-high 10 rebounds. “Luckily we somehow came back late in the first half and took a lead going into the break.
“Our halftime speech, I would say, was a little motivating and got us going. We came out with more intensity in the second half and got into more of a flow both offensively and defensively. They were crashing the boards hard against us. They crashed and crashed and crashed and we eventually started leaking a guy and we found him — Steve (Custis) for a couple of big dunks which kind of got the crowd into it a little more and got us playing harder.”
Urbana outrebounded the Falcons, 60-42, in the game. No less than 31 of the Blue Knights’ rebounds came on the offensive glass. However, Urbana shot a miserable 28.4 percent from the field in the contest (23-of-81) and became somewhat frustrated late in the first half and throughout the second half when FSU switched from a man-to-man defense to a zone.
“It wasn't a pretty game for us, but we came out with a ‘W’ which is the most important thing,” said FSU junior guard/forward Terrence Green, who finished with 16 points, five rebounds and three assists. “They’re a scrappy team. Give them credit. They came out tonight playing to win from the start and they never backed down. We came out a little tentative, but once we got it going we upped our intensity level, got the lead and never looked back.
“The switch to a zone defense was a big key for us. We wanted to slow them down on offense and take them out of what they were doing. They had a couple of good guards who could penetrate and score or kick it out. The zone forced them to shoot more from the outside and the good thing is they were 2-of-25 from 3-point range tonight.”
FSU had a chance to really put the Blue Knights away earlier in the second half, but an 18-of-34 performance (52.9 percent) from the foul line, including a 10-of-23 showing in the second half kept Urbana close.
“We got to the line, but we really didn’t convert on them,” said Bruner, who scored 14 of his 17 points in the second half. “Luckily that didn’t hurt us. We really don’t work on free throws in practice because at this level that should come natural, especially for a team like ours which has a bunch of good shooters. We have to do better at the line, though, especially once we get to league play because a night like we had tonight could easily cost us a game.”
Sophomore guard Steve Custis chipped in 16 points and five rebounds for the Falcons, while true freshman guard Isaac Thornton added 11 points.
Urbana was led by Justin Tyson’s double-double outing. He finished with 12 points and a game-high 15 rebounds off the bench. The Blue Knights also got 11 points and 11 rebounds from Vitas Naudziunas and 11 points from T. R. Ellis.
FSU will be idle now until Tuesday, Nov. 24 when it hosts Salem International in a 7:30 p.m. game at the Joe Retton Arena as part of a doubleheader with the Lady Falcons, who entertain Salem at 5:30 p.m. Those games were originally scheduled to be played at Salem, but now have been moved to Fairmont.
Duane Cochrane
Falcons struggle, but top Urbana
- 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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