Box Score SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. –  Jevonte Hughes scored a game-high 18 points to lead University of Charleston to a 71-54 win over Shepherd University in MEC men's basketball action at the Butcher Center on Thursday night.

Hughes hit on 7-of-9 field goals with a 4-of-5 effort from the charity stripe.

Senior guard Austin Cunningham (Vincent, Ohio/Warren Local/Ohio Valley) tossed in a team-high 15 points for the Rams.

Senior forward Morgan McDonald (Inwood, W.Va./Musselman) posted his third double-double of the season with 10 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

Cameron Dozier added 13 points, while Octavius Green had eight points and nine boards for the Golden Eagles.

Charleston had a 32-28 lead at the break.

The Golden Eagles opened the second half on a 13-6 run and took an 11-point advantage at 45-34 on after a jumper by Hughes with 13:27 remaining in the contest.  The Rams were unable to recover.

Shepherd hit on 21-of-46 field goals (45.7 percent) with a 3-of-9 (33.3 percent) effort from three-point range for the game. The Rams connected on 9-of-12 free throws (75 percent).

Charleston connected on 24-of-52 field goals (47.1 percent) with a 7-of-19 effort (36.8 percent) from beyond the arc. The Golden Eagles were 16-of-21 from the foul line (76.2 percent).

The Golden Eagles had a 34-22 edge on the boards. The Rams forced 13 turnovers and committed 15.

Shepherd falls to 11-8, 6-7 in MEC play, while Charleston improves to 14-5, 9-4. The Rams return to action on Saturday when they host Glenville State at 4 p.m. for Jefferson Security Bank Day.