SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. -- Fairmont State's stifling defense held Shepherd to just 54 points and 36.7 percent from the field, as the fifth-ranked Falcons picked up a 73-54 victory to wrap-up the 2015-16 regular season on a six-game winning streak.
 
With the win, the Falcons ended the regular season with a 25-3 overall record, including a 19-3 mark in Mountain East Conference play. The 25-3 record is the best regular season finish for FSU since the Falcons went 24-2 during the 1999-00 regular season. The Falcons also finished the 1998-99 regular season with a 23-3 record and were 24-2 following the 1997-98 regular season.
 
The 25-win season is also the 15^th in Fairmont State men's basketball history.
 
The Falcons will be the No. 3 seed in next week's MEC tournament and will play the winner of the Notre Dame/UVa-Wise opening round game on Friday at 2:15 p.m. inside the Charleston Civic Center in the quarterfinal round. NDC and Wise will square-off on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in South Euclid.
 
The 54 points scored by the Rams this afternoon is the second-lowest point total of the season (Charleston, 51). In addition, only two other teams held Shepherd under 37 percent from the field this season (Charleston, Concord).
 
Both teams struggled offensively in the opening half as Fairmont went to the locker room with a 29-26 advantage. The Rams shot just 32.3 percent (10-of-31) and the Falcons shot 42.4 percent (14-of-33) in the first half.
 
However, the Falcons added more offense in the second half, shooting 56.3 percent from the field and outscoring the Rams 44-28 to roll to a 19-point win.
 
After allowing just 10 first-half field goals, FSU kept the pressure on the Rams, allowing just 12 more baskets in the second half. Shepherd, who averaged 11 three-pointers per game this season, made just five on the afternoon. SU shot 19 percent from behind the arc (5-of-26).
 
The Falcons got a game-high 20 points from Jamel Morris, going 8-of-14 from the field and making four three-pointers in the win. Thomas Wimbush just missed a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds and Matt Bingaya chipped in 13. Trevor Andrews-Evans continued his strong play with six points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots. Andrews-Evans has 16 blocks in the last three games.
 
Fairmont State held a 45-33 advantage on the glass and outscored Shepherd 44-28 in the paint. The Falcons also had 16 second-chance points.
 
Ryan McTavish led three Rams in double-figures with 12 points. Winston Burgess recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 boards and Steffen Davis added 10 points for Shepherd.