URBANA, Ohio -- Fairmont State rallied from a six-point halftime deficit and escaped with a 73-70 victory over Urbana University on Saturday afternoon at the Grimes Center in Mountain East Conference action.
 
With the win, Fairmont State improves to 18-5 overall and 13-5 in Mountain East Conference play. The Falcons remain in a tie for second-place in the MEC standings with the University of Charleston. UU falls to 5-19 overall and 4-14 in the league.
 
The Falcons battled through eight ties and seven lead changes while shooting 55 percent from the floor in the win. The Falcons also made 9-of-21 attempts from behind the arc (42.9%) and knocked down 12-of-13 attempts form the free throw line.
 
Urbana, on the other hand, shot just 41 percent from the field and 33 percent from behind the arc. The Blue Knights also capitalized on just 14-of-22 attempts from the charity stripe (63.6%). Fairmont State was whistled for 19 fouls in the game, compared to just 12 for the Blue Knights.
 
With Urbana leading 70-69 with 2:37 remaining in the second half, the Falcons got two free throws and a layup from junior Cole VonHandorf on back-to-back possessions to grab a 73-70 lead with just under a minute to play - which turned out to be the final score of the contest.
 
In the final 2:37 of the game, Fairmont State's defense forced a pair of Blue Knight turnovers and held Urbana to an 0-4 shooting performance on five trips down the floor.
 
VonHandorf scored 17 points in the win for Fairmont State to go with five rebounds. Isaiah Sanders also netted 16 points and pulled down six boards. Przemyslaw Golek followed with 14 points and five rebounds for the Falcons.
 
Shaunn Monroe led all players in the game with 29 points for Urbana. Tehree Horn added 11 points for the Blue Knights, while Mario Lacy netted nine points to go with 11 boards.
 
Fairmont State will return to action on Monday evening in non-conference action against Bluefield State. Tip is set for 7 p.m. from Dan Cava Court inside Joe Retton Arena.