FAIRMONT, W.Va. -- Fairmont State shot over 60 percent from the field in the second half and held off a late Concord surge to pick up a 79-71 Mountain East Conference victory on Saturday afternoon at Dan Cava Court inside Joe Retton Arena.
 
With the victory, Fairmont State improves to 16-5 overall and 11-5 in Mountain East Conference play. Concord falls to 7-15 overall and 4-12 in league play.
 
Following losses by both West Virginia State and Glenville State this afternoon, the Falcons are now in sole possession of third-place in the MEC standings behind West Liberty (12-3) and Charleston (11-4). The Hilltoppers and Golden Eagles will matchup in a Division II Showcase game tomorrow afternoon.
 
Fairmont State broke open a one-point halftime lead early in the second half and lead by as many as 19 points with 11:07 remaining. Concord cut the Fairmont State lead to single-digits late in the second half and got as close as four points, 67-63, with 5:12 remaining. However, Fairmont State answered with a 10-0 run over the next four minutes and pushed its lead back out to 77-63 with just over a minute remaining.
 
Fairmont State finished the game shooting 47 percent from the field, including a 9-of-25 performance from behind the arc. The Falcons were very good in transition during the victory, scoring 27 points-off turnovers and 19 points on the fast-break.
 
Four players reached double-figures for the Falcons, including a team-high 17 points from Ilisia Washington off the bench. Washington hit four of Fairmont's nine 3-pointers in the win. The Falcons also got 16 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and four steals from Dale Bonner, and 16 points from Isaiah Sanders. Kenzie Melko-Marshall added 13 points and six rebounds for the Falcons.
 
Three players finished with double-doubles for Concord as the Mountain Lions held a 48-30 rebounding advantage. David Mulumba finished the afternoon with a game-high 25 points and 10 rebounds. The Mountain Lions also got 15 points and 12 rebounds from Liam Evans, and 14 points and 11 rebounds from Martin Kelly Jr.
 
Concord shot just 44 percent from the field, including just 5-of-23 from three-point range.
 
The Falcons will return to action on Wednesday evening at Joe Retton Arena against Notre Dame College. Tip is set for 7:30 p.m. Fairmont will look to avenge an 85-83 loss to NDC back on Jan. 11 in South Euclid.