Wheeling, W. Va. - Over the last two weeks, the Wheeling University Men's Basketball team (10-12, 5-9) has been showing the Mountain East Conference (MEC) just how good they can be, going on a four-game winning streak. The Cardinals look to keep the good times rolling on Wednesday night, when they host #12 Fairmont State with tip-off at 7:30 PM. It will be the Cardinal's toughest test yet during this stretch, and they look to stick to the process and continue climbing the MEC Standings.
Saturday would be a special senior day matchup for the team as they hosted Davis & Elkins College, while honoring a pair of senior standouts. Throughout the first half, neither team was seeing shots go into the net, with Wheeling shooting just over 28%, compared to a 36.67% mark for Davis & Elkins. However, a short 7-0 run was enough to create the separation that the Cardinals needed, and they headed into the halftime break with a 37-32 advantage. Things would get better for the Cardinals in the second half, as the team made 40% of its shots over the final 20 minutes, putting up 43 second half points. They key to the game would be at the free throw line, where the Cardinals went 34-43 (79.1%) and sealed the game going 6-8 over the final minute. It rounded out the fourth straight win for the Cardinals, and kept their February momentum alive. They would go on to win 80-73 and continue to inch closer to one of the six first-round bye spots.
Leading the Cardinals on both ends of the floor was Alex Smith, who finished second on the team with 13 points, while leading the way with 11 rebounds. It was Smith's fifth double-double of the season, and the second straight game that he has reached the 11 rebound mark. Smith has been a leader on the defensive side of the ball for the Cardinals all season long, but since the Calendar has flipped to 2025, he has taken his offensive game to the next level. Since the turn of the year, Smith is averaging 11.6 Rebounds per game, while at the same time averaging 8.4 rebounds per game. Smith currently sits third in the conference, averaging 3.0 Reb/Game this season, and sits tied for third with 199 total rebounds. He looks to continue bringing the offensive punch as the team continues down the final three week stretch.
Off the bench, it has been Curtis Harrison IV sparking the Cardinals this past week with a pair of double digit efforts. After putting up a season-high 19 points against West Virginia Wesleyan on Wednesday, Harrison came back strong with a 10-point effort against Davis & Elkins. He was once again efficient from the floor, shooting 60% (3-5) and added a perfect 4-4 mark in free throws. Harrison provided two big three-point plays late in the game, including a massive dunk, that helped secure the win and he looks to continue sparking the Cardinals throughout the season. After being honored on senior day, Sean Ealy continued his offensive success this season, putting up 21 points in the effort. Ealy has been in double digits in every game since the team last played Fairmont State on January 8th, and currently sits third in the conference, averaging 18.0 PPG.
With three weeks left in the regular season, the Cardinals continue towards their goal of securing one of the top six spots to earn a first-round bye. Entering play on Wednesday, the Cardinals hold the #9 seed in the MEC Tournament field, but are just one game back of Glenville State for what would be the 6th and final first round bye in the tournament. The Cardinals have had to play a first round game in every season since Head Coach Chris Richardson took over in 2020-2021, and they are looking to avoid that this season. They are set to face one of the most talented team in the conference in Fairmont State on Wednesday night, but a win could propel them towards their goal of that first-round bye.
The Matchup
The Cardinals and Falcons will be meeting for the 56th time in program history on Wednesday night, with Fairmont State leading the all-time series at 39-16. Wheeling has played better at home, going 9-16 on their home floor compared to seven wins on the road, and the Cardinals are averaging 76.95 PPG in the all-time series. However, the Cardinals are looking to break a 13-game skid at the hands of the Falcons, with the Cardinals last beating Fairmont State on January 24th, 2018.
Wednesday will be the second time the two teams have met this season, with Fairmont State winning the first meeting 94-78 back on January 8th. The Cardinals were led by Alex Smith and S.J. Hutchinson, who each put up 12 points on the day. Jerry Saunders Jr., William Gabbert, and Curtis Harrison IV led the rebounding game with five each, while Korey Beckett, Gabbert, and Ealy led the way with three assists.
The Details
Tip-off for Wednesday night's game is scheduled for 7:30 PM inside the Alma Grace McDonough Center. You can watch the game live by clicking HERE or follow along with Live Stats by clicking HERE.
