FAIRMONT, W.Va. -- The Fairmont State University men's basketball team battled Edinboro University in the final game of the Joe Retton Classic. A lead at half time and solid free throw shooting proved the difference as the Falcons took down the Fighting Scots, 79-71.

Andre Harris paved the way for the Falcons with 19 points, going 7-8 from the free throw line while grabbing nine boards. The entire starting lineup for FSU finished with double-digits points as a team, Fairmont State was 24-29 (82.8%) from the charity stripe. The team also won the turnover battle with four while forcing 13.

In the first three minutes of the game, Edinboro jumped out to a five-point advantage (9-4). A couple of substitutions for Fairmont State sparked the offense as the team went on a 15-2 run with six points coming from CJ Little. The Fighting Scots seemed the momentarily stop the run with a three-point shot but the Falcons went right back to work.

FSU scored the next nine points including four from Tyheil Peterson. Down 28-14, Edinboro was able slowly chip away at the difference and as the halftime horn sounded, the Falcons led 36-29 going to the locker room.

To start the second half, the Fighting Scots got on a hot streak from distance and after a 14-2, led 43-38. Fairmont State kept battling and as the gap grew smaller, Tommy Williams hit a three to even the score at 56 with 9:05 on the clock.

The two sides went back-and-forth with the lead until the Falcons dropped five-straight points to hold a 70-65 advantage with 3:41 to go. Edinboro tried to mount a comeback but Fairmont State's defense started to lock down the oppostion. Over the final two minutes, the Falcons made seven of their nine free throw attempts to secure the eight-point victory.

Fairmont State (2-0) heads to Pennsylvania on Saturday, November 16 to face Slippery Rock University. Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m.