The Fairmont State men's basketball team will look to bounce back on Wednesday (Feb. 22) versus West Virginia Wesleyan inside Joe Retton Arena. The game is set to tipoff at 7:30 p.m.

Fighting Falcons Facts

• Fairmont State held a lead late at No. 11/10 West Liberty, but the Hilltoppers forced an overtime period and held on in the extra period. George Mangas led all scorers with 32 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
• Fairmont State was listed under consideration in the Atlantic Regional rankings, which were revealed on Feb. 15. The next round of regional rankings will be revealed on Feb. 22. Entering Wednesday, Fairmont State holds a 20-6 overall record and a 15-5 conference mark.
• Fairmont State was tied for fourth place with East Stroudsburg in the latest D2SIDA Atlantic Regional poll released on Feb. 13.
• Seth Younkin was named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team for his performance in the classroom and on the court. To be nominated, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) at his current institution.
• The Fairmont State offense ranks third in the nation in scoring (93.7 points per game) and ninth in three-pointers made per game (10.8). The Fighting Falcons lead the Mountain East Conference in field goal percentage (50.5%), three-point percentage (39.9%) and free throw percentage (77.5%).
• Isaiah Sanders continues to lead the high-powered Fairmont State offense. He is second in the MEC in three-pointers per game (3.15) and ranks fourth in points per game (19.0).
• Sanders' 84 three-point baskets rank second in the country and lead the MEC. The Fighting Falcons' leading scorer has made 44.2% of his three-point attempts this season. Sanders was named MEC Player of the Week on Jan. 16.
• Sanders is seven points shy of 2,000 points scored at Fairmont State. He started his collegiate career at Notre Dame (Ohio) and has totaled 2,366 career points.
• George Mangas' breakout season includes him leading the conference in field goal percentage (61.1%). Mangas is averaging 15.6 points per game, which includes his career-high 33 points on Jan. 25 versus West Virginia State. He has secured 48 offensive rebounds, which is the most out of any Falcon player. Mangas leads the squad with 141 rebounds.
• Fairmont native Zyon Dobbs leads Fairmont State with 139 assists and is averaging 11.4 points per game. The Fairmont State guard has a 2.19 assist/turnover ratio, which is the best metric out of Fairmont State players who have participated in at least 10 games.
• Fonz Hale has hit 49 three-point baskets and has averaged 12.6 points per game. The Salem transfer has passed 100 assists and poked 34 steals.
• Briggs Parris, a shooting guard from Boones Mill, Va., has swished 46 three-pointers in his final college season. He has scored more than 10 points in 13 games this season and scored a season-high 19 points in the team's win at Wheeling on Jan. 11. Parris netted 18 points versus NDC on Jan. 7 and versus Concord on Feb. 4. The Fighting Falcons are 14-1 when Parris reaches double figures.
• Center Tariq Woody has posted a 64.6% field goal percentage this season. The Canton, Mich. native has made 102 field goals on 158 attempts and averages 8.8 points per game.
• Seth Younkin, a forward from Connellsville, Pa., swatted a season-high five blocks at Virginia Union and leads Fairmont State with 26 blocks. Younkin has racked up six multi-block games this season. He has pulled down 122 boards and is shooting 53.4% from the field.
• Freshman David Jolinder is averaging 8.8 points per contest and has totaled 22 blocks. He has scored more than 10 points in 11 games during his rookie campaign.
• Tommy Williams has appeared in 26 games and has totaled 19 steals this season. Williams has tracked down 48 rebounds and has dished out 16 assists.
• Tim Koenig is currently in his fourth season leading Fairmont State men's basketball and in his 10^th as a head coach. Koenig has won 174 career games as a head coach, which included a six-year stint at Notre Dame (Ohio).

 
Scouting West Virginia Wesleyan
West Virginia Wesleyan is set to travel to Fairmont to take on the Fighting Falcons in this late MEC matchup. The Bobcats are 2-23 and 2-18 in conference play after being defeated by Glenville State on Saturday, 84-67.
 
Graduate transfer Darius Green currently leads the Bobcats with averages of 15.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game. He finished with 16 points, 8 rebounds and one assist on 50% shots made versus GSU. The Bobcats have three players who not only average at least one steal per game, but also rank top 20 in the Mountain East for steals. As a team, they rank third in total steals with 207 and average 8.28 per game.
 
The Bobcats are led by head coach Derek Sloan, who was named the men's head coach before the start of the 2021-22 season. He spent two seasons as an assistant coach under former WVU men's basketball player Nick Patella. Sloan also played basketball at Cleveland State University before receiving his bachelor's degree in Business Administration.

 
Last Matchup Versus West Virginia Wesleyan
The Fighting Falcons improved their record to 4-0 and faced the Bobcats in the second conference game of the season. Tariq Woody recorded his first double-double of his Fairmont State career and scored 13 points while hauling in 10 boards in the 20-point victory. Isaiah Sanders led all Fairmont State scorers with 23 points.
 
 
Up Next
Fairmont State will celebrate Senior Day on Saturday (Feb. 25) in the final home game of the regular season versus Frostburg State at 4 p.m.