BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – Twenty-fifth ranked Fairmont State closed out a 71-61 victory over West Virginia Welseyan in the Mountain East Conference opener for both teams on Saturday evening in Buckhannon.
 
Despite being outshot by the Bobcats, Fairmont State forced 24 turnovers on the defensive end, scoring 20 points off turnovers.
 
With Wesleyan (1-2, 0-1 MEC) holding a 13-8 lead at the 13:31 mark of the opening half, Fairmont State went on an 18-0 run over the next seven-plus minute stretch to grab a 26-13 lead late in the opening half.
 
The Falcons (4-0, 1-0) maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the half until a 5-0 Bobcat run in the final minute of the first half made the halftime score 37-29 in favor of FSU.
 
Following a field goal by Luke Layhew to open the second half, FSU went on a 10-4 spurt early in the half to grab another double-digit advantage (47-35) following a Troy Cantrell dunk.
 
The Bobcats cut Fairmont's lead to as little as seven with 5:35 remaining in the game, but couldn't get any closer as the nationally-ranked Falcons locked up the 71-61 win to open their conference schedule.
 
The Falcons were led by Matt Bingaya with 13 points and seven rebounds in the victory. Bingaya was joined in double-figures by Trevor Andrew-Evans with 12 and DJ Stockman with 10.
 
In addition to shooting just 45.8 percent from the field (27-of-59), the Falcons also capitalized on just 4-of-14 three-point field goals attempts. FSU also struggled from the free throw line, making 13-of-23 attempts from the charity stripe.
 
Wesleyan shot 51 percent from the field and out-rebounded FSU by eight (37-29). The Bobcats got a team-high 20 points from Kevin Kangni off the bench. Mo Berchie and Layhew also scored 10 points apiece for WVWC.
 
FSU will return home on Monday evening for a 7:30 p.m. tip against Glenville State at Joe Retton Arena.