Box Score INSTITUTE, W.Va. –  Sophomore forward AJ Carr (Fairfax, Va./Saint James School) posted game highs of 25 points and 17 rebounds  to lead Shepherd University to a 94-81 win over West Virginia State in MEC men's basketball action at West Virginia State on Sunday.
 
Shepherd improves to 8-5 overall, 3-4 in MEC action, while West Virginia State drops to 4-8, 2-5.
 
Carr connected on 10-of-22 shots with a 2-of-3 effort from beyond the arc. He drained 3-of-3 free throws. Carr also tied State's Markee Mazyck with a game-high eight assists.
 
Sophomore guard Skyler Roman (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg Area) added 18 points, while senior forward Ryan McTavish (Mt. Airy, Md./South Carroll/Bridgton Academy) and freshman guard Marcus Adkison (Annandale, Va./St. Andrew's Episcopal) each tossed in 15.
 
Junior forward Mike Reed (Abdington, Md./Patterson Mill) contributed eight points and six boards off the bench.
 
Mazyck led the Yellow Jackets with 22 points. Cody Morris added 18 points, six rebounds, and three blocks.
 
After Mazyck hit a pair of free throws to tie the game at 68-68 with 10:10 remaining, Shepherd proceeded on a 15-5 run to take an 83-73 lead following a layup by Roman to take control of the contest. Roman had seven points during the run.
 
Shepherd shot 45.9 percent (34-74) from the floor with a 34.8 percent (8-23) performance from three-point range. The Rams drained 18-of-23 free throws (78.3 percent). West Virginia State shot 50.8 percent (33-65) from the floor with an 11.8 percent (2-17) effort from beyond the arc. The Yellow Jackets hit on 13-of-17 free throws (76.5 percent).
 
Shepherd had a 44-32 advantage on the boards. The Rams forced nine turnovers and committed 10.
 
The Rams return to action on Tuesday when they travel to University of Charleston for a 7:30 p.m. game.