INDIANA, Pa. – The Fairmont State men's basketball team fell in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Atlantic Regional Tournament to Virginia Union, 66-64, at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex on Saturday (March 11) in Indiana, Pa.
 
The Falcons held an eight point lead with 6:30 left in the second half. The Panthers fired off a 12-2 run to finish the game and advanced to the semifinal round.
 
"I want to thank the coaches and players and the seniors," said head coach Tim Koenig. "I am really appreciative of them. This one hurt and it was a tough finish. I love these guys and think the world of them."
 
Down by three points early in the first half, the Falcons scored 14 unanswered points and jumped out to an 18-7 lead. Isaiah Sanders started the run with a jumper and Tariq Woody dumped off a pass to George Mangas for a layup in the paint. Another layup by Mangas, a three-pointer apiece by Briggs Parris and Zyon Dobbs and a David Jolinder fastbreak layup completed the Falcons scoring push.
 
VUU closed the gap to one after scoring eight straight and trailed 21-20 with less than seven minutes remaining in the opening half. Sanders knocked down a longball and the Falcons went up by six with 5:38 to go. The Panthers closed the gap to two points twice in the final five minutes. Dobbs swished a three-pointer with 28 seconds left and the Falcons led by four at the half.
 
Sanders poured in two free throws and FSU led by six points to open the second half. Parris knocked down a three-pointer to put Fairmont State by seven with 13:45 remaining. The Panthers cut the Falcons' lead to three points with 12:45 on the clock. Jolinder and Mangas both made jumpers and the Falcons pushed the lead back to seven at the halfway mark of the half. A Woody layup and a Jolinder three-pointer increased Fairmont State's lead to nine points with 7:49 left. Sanders rimmed home a three-pointer from the corner with 6:30 to go and the Falcons led 62-54.
 
VUU turned up the pressure on defense and forced a string of Fairmont State turnovers that led to points on the offensive end. The Panthers pulled within one point after a Devon Sims jumper with 5:42 on the clock. VUU took its first lead since the 15:23 mark of the second half at the 4:33 mark. Woody slammed home a dunk to put the Falcons back in the lead, 64-63. VUU hit a triple with 2:30 left and jumped back in front, 66-64. The Falcons had multiple scoring attempts in the final two minutes to tie or take the lead. VUU held on the defensive end and advanced after a 66-64 win.
 
Sanders and Mangas both scored 13 points to lead Fairmont State in scoring. Dobbs finished with 10 and Parris made a trio of three-pointers for nine points. Mangas grabbed eight rebounds and Seth Younkin collected four offensive boards. He and Woody both swatted two blocks and Parris secured a pair of steals.
 
The Falcons were held to 41.4% shooting on the night and 28.1% from beyond the arc. VUU shot 35.1% from the field and made 36.4% of its three-point attempts. The Panthers forced 16 Fairmont State turnovers and the Falcons forced eight.