Box Score INSTITUTE, W.Va. – Senior guard Niam Muhammad (Waldorf, Md./North Point) scored a season and game-high 30 points and junior forward AJ Carr (Fairfax, Va./St. James School) added 24 to lead Shepherd University (17-9, 14-6 MEC) to an 81-69 win over West Virginia State (6-20, 3-17 MEC) in MEC men's basketball action at West Virginia State on Saturday.

Muhammad connected on 8-of-9 field goals with a 1-of-2 effort from three-point range. He was 13-of-17 from the foul line. He also added game highs of seven assists and five steals.

Carr hit on 8-of-16 field goals with a 4-of-7 effort from beyond the arc. He was 4-of-6 from the foul line. Carr added eight rebounds and three blocked shots. Carr has 1,002 points for his career.

Junior guard Steffen Davis (Accokeek, Md./Maret School) added 12 points for the Rams.

Ernest Jenkins led West Virginia State with 20 points and six assists. DeQuan Doyle added 10 points and nine boards.

Shepherd had a 50-31 lead at the break as Carr (18) and Muhammad (12) combined for 30 first half points.

West Virginia State rallied to within eight points at 77-69 with a minute left in the game after a layup by Jenkins. Shepherd sank 4-of-6 free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.

Shepherd connected on 44.8 percent (26-58) from the floor with a 37.5 percent (9-24) performance from beyond the arc for the game. The Rams hit on 74.1 percent (20-27) of their free throws.

West Virginia State shot 47.4 percent (27-57) from the floor with a 38.5 percent effort (10-26) from three-point range. The Yellow Jackets shot 41.7 percent (5-12) from the charity stripe.

West Virginia State had a 43-30 advantage in rebounding. The Rams forced 19 turnovers and committed just seven.

The Rams return to action on Thursday when they host West Virginia Wesleyan for a 7:30 p.m. game.