Box Score
WHEELING, W.Va. –
Junior guard Austin Cunningham (Vincent, Ohio/Ohio Valley) scored a game-high 20 points to lead six Shepherd players in double figures as the Rams handed Wheeling Jesuit an 87-82 setback in MEC men's basketball action at Wheeling on Saturday.
Cunningham connected on 5-of-14 shots with a 3-of-7 effort from beyond the arc. He was 7-for-9 from the foul line. He added four assists and three steals.
Justin Fritts had 19 points and Kyle Ritz added 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Cardinals.
Shepherd shot 55.7 percent (34-61) from the floor with a 39.1 percent (9-23) effort from three-point range. The Rams connected on 10-of-13 free throws (76.9 percent).
Wheeling Jesuit shot 48.4 percent (30-62) from the floor with a 13-of-30 effort (43.8 percent) from beyond the arc. The Cardinals hit on 9-of-13 free throws (69.2 percent).
Wheeling Jesuit had a 33-29 advantage on the boards. The Rams forced 19 turnovers and committed 14.
The Cardinals took a 47-43 lead into the break as Ritz poured in all his 16 points in the first half.
Shepherd used a 10-0 run early in the second half to take a nine-point lead at 73-64 after a Muhammad layup with 11:56 left.
Wheeling Jesuit rallied to within three points at 85-82 after a three-pointer by Eric Seifert with 28 seconds left, but Cunningham hit a pair of free throws 18 seconds remaining to seal the win for the Rams.
Shepherd improves to 13-3, 8-2 in conference action, while Wheeling Jesuit falls to 6-7, 4-6. The Rams return to action on Thursday when they host Fairmont State for United Bank Night at 7:30 p.m.
