Wheeling, W. Va. - Heading into Saturday afternoons match, the Wheeling University Men's Basketball team (4-5, 2-3) we're looking for a big win to round out the 2023 portion of their Mountain East Conference (MEC) schedule. It was a back and forth game throughout the night but with 2.3 Second showing on the clock a tip-in would give the Cardinals a huge 81-80 victory over Charleston. The win brought their conference record to 2-3 heading into the break and sets them in good position to make a run for the MEC Tournament in 2024.

Wheeling with steak to a two-point lead coming out of the half, After the two teams had been jockeying for the lead throughout the first half. That back and Fourth continued throughout the second half with neither team having more than a four-point lead over the final 20 minutes. The lead had changed hand several times during the half and, In the final seconds before the final media time out, Sean Ealy would deliver a big jumper to put the Cardinals in front. With 4:19 to play, the Cardinals were stake to a 71-69 advantage, but a short 4-0 run by the Golden Eagles got them back out in front 73-71. The Cardinals were in need of a big shot and got it at the 2:30 Mark as Caleb Murray hit his four three-pointer of the day to make it 74-73 Cardinals.

The lead changed hands twice over those two and a half minutes of play, but with 12 seconds to go The Cardinals had a slight 79-78 lead. However, a Cardinal foul sent Charleston's Dwaine Jones to the free throw line. He hit both shots and the Cardinals found themselves trailing by an 80-79 score with 12 seconds to play. Ealy would inbound the ball for the Cardinals and came streaking down the field pulling up at the free throw line. He sent a shot up with just five seconds to play and it bounced off the rim and into a mob of rebounders leaping for the ball. In the end, it would be Marcus Johnson who got his fingertips on it sending it back to the basket and threw the net to give the Cardinals an 81-80 lead. With 2.3 seconds to play the Cardinals had to come up with one more stop and forced a Golden Eagle shot from near half court that fell short of the rim giving the Cardinals a big victory.

It was the Cardinals second big late game shot of the season, with this one giving them a victory. The game winning tip came from Marcus Johnson, who would end the night as the Cardinals leading scorer with 22 points. He shot and impressive 66.7% from the floor and added two big three-pointers to round out his day. The Cardinals also got a spark from sophomore Caleb Murray, who finished one point shy of his season high with 16 points off the bench. He led the team with four three-pointers, marking the third time this season that he has reached that mark. Two other Cardinals finished in double figures on the day with Sean Ealy (16) and Kevin Coleman Jr. 10) each hitting the mark. Coleman would leave the defensive effort with seven rebounds while Jerry Saunders let the team with two assists.

Heading into the matchup, the Cardinals knew it would be a challenge with Charleston being picked number two in the MEC preseason poll, While also receiving three first place votes. Wheeling was ready for the challenge going shot for shot with Charleston throughout the game. The largest lead for either team in any point was just five With Charleston holding a five-point lead in each half. In the first half, but Charleston Five-Point lead came at the 11:18 mark as a Jones lay up Made it up 16-11 affair. The Cardinals battled back over the next three minutes to tie things at 18-18. The two teams would trade blows until the score sat at 28-28 with 3:15 to go before the half. Murray and Kobe Tigney each hit jumpers and Charleston responded making it a 32-32 game. The final shot of the half would come from Murray, and it sent Wheeling into the half with a 36-34 lead.

In the second half, the Cardinals would have to be efficient to pick up the win, as Charleston shot 51.9%. The Cardinals not only matches that effort, but went above and beyond, hitting 55.17% of their shots over the final 20 minutes. That percentage got even better the farther out they went, as the Cardinals added a 62.50% mark from three-point range. The Cardinals maintained their first half lead for the first five minutes into the second half until the score sat at 40-40. The lead would change hands six different times heading to that final media timeout, with both teams going blow for blow with each other. In the end, the Cardinals would be the ones to get the last shot and earn a big conference win heading into the Christmas break schedule.

The Wheeling University Men's Basketball team returns to action on Wednesday, December 13th, when they hit the road to face CAL-U with tip-off scheduled for 6 PM.