SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. -- Jason Jolly's contested 3-pointer with 24 seconds remaining lifted Fairmont State to a 73-66 victory over Shepherd on Saturday afternoon at the Butcher Center in Shepherdstown.
 
The win helps Fairmont State improve to 14-4 overall and 11-1 in Mountain East Conference play. Shepherd falls to 10-8 overall and 6-6 in the league.
 
Fairmont State and Shepherd battled through six lead changes and six ties before the Falcons outscored Shepherd 7-0 in the final 24 seconds of regulation to pick up the critical road win.
 
With the game tied at 62-62 at the 2:28 mark following an 8-0 run by Shepherd, Fairmont State's Troy Cantrell dropped in layups on back-to-back possessions to put the Falcons back in front by four (66-62) with 1:17 remaining.
 
SU tied the game once again at the 43-second mark following a layup by Winston Burgess and a pair of free throws by Derek McKnight.
 
On the ensuing offensive possession for Fairmont State, Jolly brought the ball up court and launched a contested, crossover three that he buried to give the Falcons the lead for good (69-66) with just 24 seconds remaining.
 
Following a Fairmont State timeout, Vonte Montgomery forced a steal for the Falcons on the defensive end that allowed Jolly to push Fairmont's lead to five following a pair of free throws.
 
With under 10 seconds remaining, Kenzie Melko-Marshall forced another SU turnover and took the ball coast-to-coast for a thunderous dunk, making the final score 73-66.
 
Montgomery led the way for the Falcons with 20 points, seven rebounds and two steals. Montgomery went 8-of-14 from the field in the victory. Melko added 16 points and Jolly filled the stat sheet with 14 points, six rebounds and five assists. Cantrell also chipped in eight points off the bench, including two crucial layups in the final two minutes of the second half.
 
Thomas Lang and Winston Burgess led the Rams on the offensive end with 18 points apiece. Derek McKnight also added 17 for Shepherd. Shepherd shot just 39.1 percent from the field (25-of-64).
 
Fairmont State shot just under 50 percent from the field (48.2) and drained 10 three-pointers in the win.
 
The Falcons will return to action on Wednesday evening against Wheeling Jesuit. Tip is set for 7:30 p.m. at Joe Retton Arena.