INSTITUTE, W.Va. -- Kenzie Melko-Marshall scored a career-high 30 points and R.J. Hutcherson chipped in 18 points off the bench to lead Fairmont State to an 89-78 victory over West Virginia State on Sunday evening inside the Walker Convocation Center. The game was broadcasted regionally on AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh.
 
Melko went 10-of-14 from the field, 8-of-11 from three and also chipped in eight rebounds and a steal in the victory. Hutcherson played 29 minutes off the bench on Sunday, going 7-of-13 from the field with a trio of 3-pointers.
 
As a team, the Falcons totaled 14 three-pointers on the evening, adding to the 18 threes Fairmont State drained during the first matchup of the season against the Yellow Jackets back on Nov. 19.
 
Fairmont State (19-7, 16-4 MEC) led 53-39 at the half following a three by Jason Jolly as time expired, and led by as many as 15 early in the second half before holding the Yellow Jackets off late in the game.
 
West Virginia State used a 10-2 scoring run over a three-minute stretch to pull within three point, 73-70, at the 4:26 mark of the second half. However, Fairmont State outscored the Yellow Jackets 16-8 in the closing minutes of the second half to claim the win.
 
The Yellow Jackets also cut the Fairmont State lead to four at the 1:32 mark of the second half, but a pair of Jason Jolly free throw's and Melko's eighth 3-pointer of the game stretched the lead back to nine (85-76) and provided the dagger for WV State's comeback bid.
 
In addition to Melko and Hutcherson's performances, the Falcons also got 15 points and 14 rebounds from Vonte Montgomery, 13 points from Andrew Emrick, and 10 points from Jolly in the win.
 
The Falcons recorded 17 assists on 28 made baskets, and also tuned the ball over just eight times in the victory.
 
The Yellow Jackets got a team-high 28 points from Gus Stone. Ernest Jenkins also chipped in 12 points, and Isaiah Noel recorded a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 15 boards.
 
WV State (12-14, 9-11 MEC) outshot Fairmont State 46.0-43.8 percent, and also went 14-of-16 from the free throw line in the setback.
 
Fairmont State will return to action on Wednesday evening against West Virginia Wesleyan in Mountain East Conference action at Joe Retton Arena. Tip is set for 7:30 p.m.