WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Fairmont State used a balanced offensive attack and forced Winston-Salem State into 26 turnovers to run away with an 88-78 non-conference victory to end 2015 with a 9-1 overall record.
 
No. 8 Fairmont State went 6-0 in non-conference action and will now have a week off so the players and coaches can spend some time with their families.
 
The Falcons were led by Thomas Wimbush with 15 points, 12 rebounds, two assists and two steals. The Falcons also got 14 points from Jamel Morris and 11 from both Matt Bingaya and Caleb Davis. Shammgod Wells recorded a team-best four assists for the Falcons.
 
FSU capitalized with 22 points off 26 WSSU turnovers and scored 15 second-chance points after grabbing 14 offensive rebounds. The Falcons shot 48.4 percent from the field and scored 19 points from the charity stripe. FSU also held a slim 46-42 advantage in the paint and outrebounded the Rams by two (34-32).
 
Despite issues with ball security, the Rams shot over 50 percent from the field, making 28-of-53 field-goal attempts (52.8 percent). The FSU defense and press tallied 16 steals, including nine in the opening half as FSU built an early 18-point advantage at the 5:11 mark of the opening half.
 
Winston-Salem State (6-4) was led by Terrell Leach with 28 points after going 12-of-15 from the floor and 3-of-6 from behind the arc. T.J. Wilson just missed a double-double for the Rams with 12 points and nine boards.
 
After starting the second half with a nine-point lead, WSSU quickly cut the FSU advantage to just three points (62-59) with a little over 12 minutes to play. However, an 18-7 run by the Falcons changed momentum and pushed the FSU lead back to 14 with six and a half minutes remaining. From that point, the Rams were unable to get any closer than seven (83-76 with a minute remaining, and the Falcons wrapped up the 88-78 win. Bingaya capped the scoring for FSU with a 360-dunk in the final minute that was assisted by a behind-the-back pass from Wimbush.
 
FSU will return to conference play on Monday, January 4 at 7:30 p.m. against the University of Virginia's College at Wise at Joe Retton Arena in Fairmont.