CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Adam Traore scored 17 points to lead five players in double figures as University of Charleston (18-8, 13-7 MEC) held off Shepherd University (13-13, 9-11 MEC) for a 74-69 win in MEC men's basketball action at Charleston on Saturday. Junior guard Thomas Lang (New Market, Md./Linganore) (1,013) scored a game-high 23 points for the Rams to go over 1,000 points for his career.

Lang hit on 9-of-19 field goals with a 5-of-13 effort from three-point range. He drained 9-of-9 free throws.

Senior forward Winston Burgess (Stafford, Va./Colonial Forge) scored 16 points and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds. Senior guard Derek McKnight (Teaneck, N.J./Gaston (N.C.) Day School/Louisburg CC) added 13 points and a game-high five assists. Freshman guard Jon Preston (Brandywine, Md./Rock Creek Christian) had nine points and six boards.

Drew Rackley added 14 points, Josh Floyd had 13, Seth O'Neal tossed in 11, while Lamont McManus scored 10. Devon Robinson added five points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

Charleston had a 32-31 lead at the break.

The Golden Eagles led by as many as 12 points in the second half. The Rams rallied to within two points at 68-66 after a jumper by McKnight with 1:09 left in the game. Charleston closed the game on a 6-3 run to seal the win.

Shepherd connected on 47.5 percent (29-61) from the floor with a 24 percent (6-25) performance from beyond the arc for the game. The Rams hit on 55.6 percent (5-9) of their free throws.

Charleston shot 46.7 percent (23-49) from the floor with a 25 percent effort (5-20) from three-point range. The Golden Eagles shot 88.5 percent (23-26) from the charity stripe.

UC had a 32-30 edge on the boards. The Rams forced eight turnovers and committed 10.

The Rams return to action on Wednesday when they host Glenville State for Senior Night at 7:30 p.m.