INSTITUTE, W.Va. – Fairmont State rallied from a double-digit second half deficit for the third time in the last four games to pick up a 94-89 Mountain East Conference victory over West Virginia State on Saturday in Institute.
 
Cole VonHandorf paced the Falcons in the victory with a career-high 28 points after a 10-of-18 shooting performance. The junior also went 6-of-6 from the free throw line in the final minute of play.
 
Fairmont State improves to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the MEC with the victory. The Yellow Jackets dropped to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in the league.
 
The Falcons trailed by 20 (70-50) with 15:41 remaining in the second half before rallying to take the lead just 10 minutes later – 80-78 at the 5:40 mark.
 
At the 12:42 mark of the second half with the Yellow Jackets still leading by 15 (72-57), Fairmont State went on a 23-6 run that covered a seven-minute stretch of action. The run was capped by a three-pointer from Jacob Brown, and layups by VonHandorf and Brown.
 
Over the next three minutes the lead changed four times before Fairmont State entered the final minute with an 86-85 advantage.
 
The next six points in the game came from VonHandorf at the free throw line as the Falcons jumped ahead, 92-85, with just 32 seconds remaining. The Yellow Jackets scored on their final two possessions, but Kenzie Melko-Marshall added two more free throws with 16 seconds remaining to help the Falcons put the win away, 94-89.
 
The Falcons also rallied from a 10-point second half deficit back on Nov. 26 at West Virginia Wesleyan, and trailed by 13 in the second half on Wednesday against Charleston at Joe Retton Arena.
 
Fairmont State shot over 55 percent from the field in the victory, which included 46 points in the paint. The Falcons were also 15-of-18 from the free throw line (83.3%).
 
In addition to VonHandorf's career day, the Falcons also got 18 points and six assists from Dale Bonner, 13 points, five rebounds and three assists from Jacob Brown, and 11 points and five rebounds from Isaiah Sanders. Melko also chipped in eight points and a team-high eight rebounds.
 
WV State shot 42 percent from the field and held a 41-30 rebounding advantage in the setback. The 'Jackets held a 20-9 advantage in second-chance points.
 
The Yellow Jackets also held a 10-7 advantage in 3-point field goals on the evening.
 
Five players reached double-figures for the Yellow Jackets, including a team-high 19 points and 11 boards from Anthony Pittman. WVSU also got 16 points and eight rebounds from Frank Agyemang.
 
The Falcons will now prepare for a Tuesday evening road game at Concord University. Tip is set for 7:30 p.m.