FAIRMONT, W.Va. -- The ninth-ranked Fairmont State University men's basketball team welcomed the Wheeling University Cardinals to Joe Retton Arena. The Falcons jumped out to a 19-point first half lead and never looked back as they bested the Cardinals, 94-78.

The Falcons had six different scorers finish with double-digit points as Sam Emich paced the team with 14. Andre Harris and Taj Thweatt nearly had double-doubles on the night as Harris scored 12 points with eight boards while Thweatt ended with 11 points and nine rebounds. 

After both teams struggled to point any points on the board, Wheeling (6-7, 1-5) scored the first five points. Fairmont State (12-1, 7-0) answered with the next eight points including three-point makes from David Jolinder and Tyheil Peterson.

The Falcons held a slim lead until they went on a 9-0 run to lead 22-11 with 7:26 left in the first half. The Cardinals kept the difference to just barley double-digits but FSU used an 11-0 stretch to lead 37-16 with just 1:49 on the clock. During the run, Sam Emich scored five points including a three on the fastbreak.

Each team matched the other over the remaining time as Wheeling hit a three as time expired in the half. Going to the locker room, Fairmont State led 43-24.

Opening the second half, the Falcons outscored the Cardinals 12-4 in the first four minutes to extend the advantage to 28 (56-28). Wheeling tried to cut into the difference but Fairmont State had an answer each time down the floor.

By the 7:43 mark of the half, FSU pushed its lead out ot 32 (83-51). In the final three minutes, the Cardinals caught a hot streak from behind the arc, going 5-5 from distance. A late dunk by Marcel Gardner sealed the 16-point home win for the Falcons.

In transition, the Falcons scored 36 fastbreak points and had 44 points from the bench. The team was nearly perfect from the free throw, making 21 of its 24 attempts on the night.

Fairmont State is set for a top-10 showdown on Saturday, January 11 against seventh-ranked West Liberty University. Start time from West Liberty is set for 4:00 p.m.