FAIRMONT, W.Va. -- Fairmont State edged the University of Charleston, 99-96, in double overtime on Saturday evening to open Mountain East Conference play at Joe Retton Arena.
 
Fairmont State (3-2, 1-0 MEC) got a game-high 39 points from Jason Jolly on 11-of-19 shooting and 6-of-11 from behind the arc. Andrew Emrick also came off the bench to score 26 points in the victory. Vonte Montgomery (12) and Cole VonHandorf (10) also reached double figures in the win.
 
Fairmont State shot 53.2 percent from the field and also drained 11-of-25 attempts from behind the arc. The Falcons also went 22-of-27 from the free throw line and scored 18 points off turnovers.
 
Charleston, who was unbeaten entering the game at 3-0, got a team-high 29 points from Drew Rackley in the setback. Seth O'Neal also chipped in 17 points and had four steals. Devon Robinson (16 points, 10 rebounds) and Adam Traore (14 points, 10 rebounds) each recorded double-doubles for the Golden Eagles.
 
Charleston, who shot just 32 percent in the opening half, finished the game at 43.7 percent from the field after shooting 50 percent from the field in the second half and overtime.
 
VonHandorf buried a 3-pointer with under seven seconds remaining in regulation to give the Falcons a 67-65 lead, but Charleston's (Seth) O'Neal finished strong at the rim as time expired and dropped in the game-tying layup to forced overtime, as regulation ended with a 67-67 deadlock.
 
With just nine seconds remaining in the first overtime period with Charleston leading 83-79 following a free throw by O'Neal, Jolly quickly worked the ball over midcourt and was fouled on a 3-point attempt with under four seconds remaining in the extra period. After missing the first and making the second, Jolly bounced the third attempt off the front of the rim and the ball was swatted to VonHandorf from Kenzie Melko to set up a look at the game-tying three.
 
VonHandorf was fouled on the attempt and drained all three free throw attempts to send the game into a second overtime period.
 
In the second overtime, Fairmont State trailed 88-83 before a three by R.J. Hutcherson and a layup by Emrick tied the game once again at 88-88 (3:17 to play in 2OT).
 
With the game tied at 92-92 with 1:15 remaining, the Falcons took the lead for good on a layup by Jolly. From that point, Fairmont State went 5-of-6 from the free throw line to answer each UC score, allowing the Falcons to escape with the victory.
 
Fairmont State will return to action on Monday at 7:30 p.m. when West Virginia State visits Joe Retton Arena.