SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va.  – Senior forward Winston Burgess (Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge) scored 17 points to lead Shepherd University (5-1, 2-1 MEC) to a 71-54 win over West Virginia Wesleyan (3-3, 1-2 MEC)  in MEC men's basketball action at the Butcher Center on Wednesday night.

Burgess connected on 8-of-12 shots with a 1-of-2 effort from the line. He also grabbed seven boards.

Shepherd had four players in double figures as junior guard Thomas Lang (New Market, Md./Linganore) added 14 points, senior guard Derek McKnight (Teaneck, NJ/Gaston (N.C.) Day School/Louisburg CC) tossed in 11, while freshman guard Jon Preston (Brandywine, Md./Rock Creek Christian) had 10 points and grabbed a game and career-high 12 rebounds. McKnight added nine boards and tied senior guard Devin Smith (Baltimore, Md./Randallstown/Richard Bland CC) with a game-high five assists.

Dusan Vicentic led the Bobcats with 17 points. Clay Todd added 11 points and six rebounds.

Shepherd took a 35-27 lead into the break as Burgess (11) and Lang combined for 20-first-half points. The Rams used a 51.9 percent (14-27) field goal percentage and a 46.2 percent (6-13) three-point field goal percentage in the second half to pull away for the win.

Shepherd connected on 45.9 percent (28-61) from the floor with a 40.7 percent (11-27) performance from beyond the arc for the game. The Rams hit on 57.1 percent (4-7) of their free throws.

West Virginia Wesleyan shot 39.6 percent (21-53) from the floor with a 30 percent effort (9-30) from three-point range. The Bobcats shot 30 percent (3-10) from the charity stripe.
Shepherd had a 44-25 advantage in rebounding. The Rams forced eight turnovers and committed 12.

The Rams return to action on Saturday when they travel to Glenville State for a 4 p.m. contest.