Bluestone News

Concord Renews Rivalry with Bluefield State

The Concord University men's basketball team hosts Mercer County rival Bluefield State at the Carter Center 7:30 p.m. Monday in the final non-conference game of the season.

LIVE COVERAGE
The Concord University Sports Information Department will have live statistics and live streaming video of the game. 

Live Stats
Live Video

SERIES HISTORY: Concord leads 65-37

LAST FIVE MEETINGS
November 15, 2022: Concord 88 - Bluefield State 77 (Bluefield, W.Va.)
February 14, 2022: Concord 89 - Bluefield State 88 (Bluefield, W.Va.)
November 16, 2021: Concord 92 - Bluefield State 87 (Athens, W.Va.)
February 3, 2020: Concord 74 - Bluefield State 71 (Athens, W.Va.)
November 12, 2019: Concord 81 - Bluefield State 79 (Bluefield, W.Va.)

CONCORD AT A GLANCE
Overall Record: 12-11
MEC Record: 9-9
Home Record: 5-3
Away Record: 7-7
Neutral Record: 0-1

CENTER OF PRODUCTION
At West Liberty Saturday, the center position proved to be valuable for the Mountain Lions. Fifth-year senior forward Da'Vion Moore scored in double figures for just the fifth time this season as he finished with 11 points. Freshman forward Rene Diop complemented Moore by posting a career-best 10 points off the bench as he finished 5-for-6 from the field. One of the other four double-digit scoring games for Moore this season came when he tallied 11 points and grabbed eight rebounds in an 88-77 win for Concord at Bluefield State in November. The 21 points Saturday are the most that CU has received from the center position since Moore and sophomore forward Amare Smith combined for 35 in a home win over Davis & Elkins last February.

STAYING ON PACE
Though he had just 14 points and eight rebounds at WLU, graduate guard Lual Daniel Rahama continues to average a double-double for the season as he is recording 16.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per contest through Saturday. The Newport News, Virginia native needs seven rebounds Monday night to stay above 10 boards per game. Rahama has had at least seven rebounds in 21 of 23 games this season. Earlier this year, he had one of his nine double-doubles when he posted 13 points and 13 rebounds at Bluefield State. The last Concord player to tally a double-double for the season was Terry Hopewell in 2015-16, and Brian Atkins (2002-03, 2003-04) is the only other Mountain Lion to average a double-double for a season since 2000.

THROW IT CLOSE
A game after scoring 44 points in the paint against Wheeling, the Mountain Lions notched 50 of their 79 points in the paint at West Liberty. On Saturday, CU only shot 48 percent in the paint (25-for-52). All five of Diop's shots came in the paint while junior guard JJ Harper scored four of his five field goals in the paint. Concord relied heavily on its shots around the rim in the 11-point win at Bluefield State in November as it scored 48 points in the lane. Harper (18) and junior guard Jordan Wooden (17) combined for 35 points at Bluefield State as the duo did not make a three-pointer in the win.

RIVALRY EXCITEMENT
Concord has won eight straight games in the series versus Bluefield State, extending its all-time advantage against the Big Blues to 65-37. Along with this year's 11-point victory, CU picked up an 89-88 win at BSU last season and defeated Bluefield State 92-87 at the Carter Center November 2021. With the pressure of Bluefield State, the Mountain Lions used Moore around the rim once breaking half court. In the last three games versus BSU, Moore is averaging 17.0 points and 10.6 rebounds per contest. Both of Moore's career 20-point games have come against the Big Blues. Rahama is averaging 14.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game versus Bluefield State. Senior guard Ethan Heller was pivotal in last year's home win with 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting.

REBOUND WAR
Rebounding could prove crucial in Monday's matchup. The Mountain Lions have been among the top 50 teams in Division II in rebounding this season and enters the game with a margin of +4.3. Bluefield State gets outrebounded by nearly seven rebounds per game (-6.6). Earlier this season, Concord was +9 (50-41) on the boards at Bluefield State. Rahama was the top rebounder in the game, but senior forward Jevon Laidler added nine rebounds and Moore eight boards. With plenty of rebounds to go around last season at BSU, Concord held a lopsided 62-30 advantage. Moore (12), Wooden (11) and Rahama (nine) combined to outrebounded the Big Blues by themselves. In 23 games this season, Concord has only been outrebounded seven times and finished tied on the glass at West Liberty, 41-41.

SIMILAR SCOUT
Coming off the WLU contest, CU sees a familiar style of play that it encountered on Saturday when Bluefield State visits. BSU head coach Devin Hoehn played for the Hilltoppers and incorporates a full-court, high energy pressure as West Liberty does. While Concord may be susceptible to turnovers, in two of the three games that Hoehn has coached against CU, the Mountain Lions have shot better than 50 percent from the floor. And earlier this season, the Maroon and Gray made more than 50 percent of their shots versus WLU at home. Before cooling off in the second half, Concord made 58 percent of its attempts Saturday on the road, scoring 51 points in the first half.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
9- National ranking for Rahama in rebounds per game.

51- Combined free throws attempted in the November meeting.

60- Points scored in the second half by Concord in its win at Bluefield State—the most for any half this season.

BLUEFIELD STATE AT A GLANCE
Overall Record: 9-12
Home Record: 5-6
Away Record: 2-6
Neutral Record: 2-0

SCOUTING THE BIG BLUES
This season has been a roller coaster for BSU as it has endured two separate four-game losing streaks, but has won three straight games to be 9-12 entering Monday—all three at home versus Salem, Catawba and Virginia-Lynchburg. The Big Blues have won just two true road games. Malik Tidwell averages 20 points per game and scored that number against CU in November, but needed 18 shots (5-for-18). Bluefield State's 91.9 points per game are fifth in Division II. But, the 90.2 points per game that the Big Blues give up are also the most in Division II. 

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