FAIRMONT, W.Va. – Kenzie Melko-Marshall turned in a career-high performance to help Fairmont State outlast West Virginia Wesleyan, 83-77, on Saturday afternoon inside Joe Retton Arena.
 
The game featured eight ties and had 23 lead changes before the Falcons outscored the Bobcats 10-4 in the final 2:33 to pick up the victory.
 
The win helped Fairmont State improve to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the Mountain East Conference. The Falcons will now prepare for a showdown with league-leading and unbeaten Wheeling Jesuit (7-0, 4-0 MEC) on Wednesday evening at Joe Retton Arena. Tip is set for 7:30 p.m.
 
In addition to recording a career-high 22 points in the win, Melko also recorded his first career double-double – adding 10 rebounds to go along with four steals. The Falcons also got 15 points and four rebounds from Andrew Emrick and 12 points from Cole VonHandorf.
 
Caleb Davis was also vital in Fairmont's victory, scoring each of his 10 points in the second half of the game.
 
Fairmont State shot 50 percent from the field (30-of-60) and dominated the paint with a 48-38 advantage. The Falcons also scored 16 points off turnovers and scored 17 points from the free throw line (17-of-24) in the win.
 
The Bobcats (0-8, 0-4 MEC) also shot 50 percent from the field, including a 56 percent shooting performance from behind the arc in the opening half. WVWC held a 36-31 advantage on the glass.
 
Aaron Ariri scored a game-high 26 points to go with eight rebounds for the Bobcats. Ariri went 10-of-13 from the field on the afternoon. WV Wesleyan also got 17 points and six rebounds from Dusan Vicentic and 15 points, five rebounds and seven assists from Luka Petrovic. WVWC recorded 19 assists on 30 made baskets.