FAIRMONT —
In a year filled with sky-high expectations, the 2012-13 campaign has been at times a bumpy flight for Fairmont State’s men’s basketball team.
The Falcons began their first season under head coach Jerrod Calhoun in expected fashion, rolling past Ohio-Eastern before a big Joe Retton Arena crowd in the opener and following that up with a huge road win at Virginia State.
But instead of keeping the train moving, FSU slid off the rails in back-to-back home losses against WVU Tech and Shepherd late last month. In both instances, the Falcons let close (and winnable) games slip away from them late in the second half.
But after that shaky stretch, FSU has rebounded and won two straight and now is 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the WVIAC.
Since Calhoun’s hiring from West Virginia University in the spring, the Falcons have brought in loads of new talent and a buzz to the men’s hoops program, but it has led to some learning moments on the court.
“The good thing is it’s not football where you only have 10 games, but the reality is we're putting ourselves in a bigger hole every time we lose,” Calhoun said after the Shepherd loss. “I think four teams from our conference went to the NCAA Tournament last year and all four of those teams had 20-plus wins. Each game you lose it’s a step away from you.
“I told the guys afterwards when I was at Walsh and we won the (2005 NAIA) national championship, we were 7-5 at one point in the season believe it or not and we ended up winning 20 some games in a row to win the championship, so we're certainly not giving up, but we’re certainly disappointed that we continue to give up 80 or 90 points at home. It seems like the whole conference everybody lets everybody score, and I thought we would be different, but evidently we're not. We’ve got to get back to the drawing board and hopefully we can get better defensively.”
The Falcons have made some strides in that department, especially facing a Bluefield team that’s lost 30 games in a row. They forced 17 turnovers and held the Blues to a 33.9 percent shooting night, including a 29.4 percent mark from the field after the break.
In the previous three games, FSU had given up 87, 93 and 81 points, respectively.
“We’ve got a group of guys this year who are all basically new and learning to play with one another,” FSU senior Isaiah Hill, one of the Falcons’ many new additions, said after Saturday’s win over Bluefield State. “We’re coming along and we’re starting to get this defense thing down, which is what the coaches are really stressing to us.”
Scoring, though, hasn’t been a problem for the Falcons.
They’re putting up nearly 90 points per contest, have five players in double figures and are shooting well as a team (47.9 percent on field goals, 71.7 percent on free throws).
Despite missing two games, junior college transfer Brendan Cooper leads the way with 21.3 points. The junior forward has added 9.0 rebounds per game and ranks third on FSU in assists.
Hill, a 6-9 senior center and another newcomer, is second on the squad in both scoring (14.5) and rebounding (8.3). Of his team-leading 50 boards, 21 have come on the offensive end. He’s also picked up his scoring of late, with 44 points over the past two games.
Stith, a transfer from Division I St. John’s, averages 14.3 points and leads FSU in assists (22) and steals (10). He’s also shooting 56.6 percent from the field, just percentage points from Cooper for the team lead.
Another senior, all-conference selection Isaac Thornton, is averaging 13.6 points per game, 4.2 rebounds and has added 18 assists. True freshman Stevie Browning had a hot start to his Falcon career and now sits at 10.7 points per game, while Bluefield State transfer Chase Morgan has provided an offensive spark whether in the starting lineup or on the bench and averages 9.5 points.
Three others — Tommy Scales, Andrew Gunnoe and former Fairmont Senior star Ty Garrison — have seen action in every game this season.
The Falcons don't return to action until next Saturday when they visit Charleston. UC (3-1, 0-1 in league) was picked to finish second in the league’s preseason men’s poll, just ahead of FSU.
Email Nick Cammuso at ncammuso@timeswv.com or follow him on Twitter@NickCammusoTWV.
Fairmont State Sports
Calhoun, new faces making progress
- Fairmont State Sports
-
-
FSU, MVB team up for successful tournament
The Falcons and MVB paired to complete th 21st annual MVB-Fairmont State Athletic Association Golf Tournament at the Bridgeport Country Club on Friday.
Fairmont State’s mission during the event was to sell out, so thar FSU could raise as much money as possible for the athletic department. -
Cobb named Atlantic Player of the Year
Fairmont State’s Chelsea Cobb was named the Daktronics Atlantic Region Player of the Year and outfielder Holly Frampton was a first team all-region selection. Freshman Courtney Iacobacci was a second team all-region selection.
-
Three Falcons earn All-WVIAC honors
Thee Fairmont State University baseball players earned All-West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors, the league announced Wednesday.
-
FSU sweeps major WVIAC softball honors
Fairmont State University’s softball program took home all four major postseason awards given out by the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
-
Caridi challenges FSU to ‘be brave’
Tony Caridi’s message Saturday evening to Fairmont State University’s student athletes, coaches, administration, alumni and friends was simple, yet very compelling, especially during this time of change in Falcon athletics.
-
Falcons fall short in tourney championship
West Virginia State defeated Fairmont State, 3-1, in game two of the WVIAC Tournament Finals to clinch the WVIAC Tournament Championship. FSU picked up a 4-1 victory early in the day to force a second game.
-
Falcons, State to clash for softball title
Fairmont State University and West Virginia State softball teams will clash today for the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament Championship.
-
COLUMN: Davis, Monroe set to lead FSU
As early impressions go, Garrett Davis could not have made more of a favorable one in the eyes of Jason Woodman.
Woodman, Fairmont State’s first-year head football coach and a Marion County native, certainly knew about the senior middle linebacker before he even took the gig last December. -
Falcon ‘D’ shines in 40-18 win: PHOTOS
As spring games go, Fairmont State University’s annual Maroon-White contest Thursday evening at Duvall-Rosier Field ran pretty much to form.
Using a modified scoring system that awarded points to the defense for turnovers and stops, the Falcons’ Maroon (defensive unit) came up with three turnovers and a number of stops to roll to a 40-18 victory over the White (offensive unit) in front of more than 500 fans eager to get their first glimpse of the new-look Falcons. -
N.C. point guard signs with Falcons
Fairmont State might have its point guard of the future.
Second-year head coach Jerrod Calhoun announced his first signing for the 2013-14 season on Thursday, as the program welcomed North Carolina standout Caleb Davis into the Falcon family. - More Fairmont State Sports Headlines
-
