Sunday, March 17, 2013

Hot-Shooting Fairmont State Roll Past Livingstone, 91-73

WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. -- Fairmont State shot 69 percent from the field in the opening half to roll to a 91-73 victory over fifth-seeded Livingston on Saturday night at the ASRC.

With the win, FSU advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1999. The Falcons will take on No.1 West Liberty for the fourth time this season in the second regional semifinal on Sunday evening at the ASRC. Tip is set for 7:30 p.m.

FSU (23-8) got a team-high 16 points and seven rebounds from Isaiah Hill in the victory. Tommy Scales chipped in 14 points and seven rebounds for the Falcons. Scales had his highest point total since the season opening against Ohio-Eastern (15) in the victory. Chase Morgan also chipped in 13 points for the Falcons, including 11 in the first half. Isaac Thornton also reached double figures for the Falcons with 10 points and Stevie Browning pulled down season-high eight rebounds.

LC (22-7) was led by Jody Hill with 18 points off the bench. Anthony Welch (12), Mark Thomas (11) and Omar Ford-Bey (10) also reached double figures for the Blue Bears.



The Falcons shot 55 percent from the field while limited Livingstone to just 43 percent. The Falcons out-rebounded the Blue Bears 42-31 in the game including a +10 margin in the second half to help FSU maintain its double digit lead. FSU had 21 assists on 33 made baskets including 15 assists on 20 field goals in the first half.

Fairmont State jumped out of the gate on fire, hitting eight of its first 11 shots to grab an early 18-3 advantage. Thornton drained a three-pointer with 12:31 to play in the half to cap the stretch for the Falcons. FSU would stretch its lead to as many as 31 (52-21) at the 1:47 mark before LC would score six of the final eight points of the half to send FSU to the locker room with a 54-27 advantage.

The Falcons went a perfect 6-of-6 from behind the arc in the opening half and hit 69 percent of their field goal attempts. FSU also forced nine Livingstone turnovers and held a 16-15 advantage on the glass. Morgan went 3-for-3 from behind the arc in the opening half with 11 points. Hill also scored 11 points and pulled down five boards in the first half for the Falcons.

FSU continued it’s hot-shooting in the second half to roll to a 91-73 victory over the Blue Bears to advance to the second round of the Atlantic Regional Tournament.

Box Score

COURTESY FAIRMONT STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

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