Senators hold off late rally by Wesleyan
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The Inter-Mountain photo by Edgar Kelley
Davis & Elkins' Mandela Baledrokadroka (1) puts up a shot against a trio of Wesleyan defenders, including Clay Todd (3) and Ross Young (2), during Saturday's Mountain East Conference contest at the McDonnell Center. The Senators claimed an 83-76 victory.
ELKINS -- Donte Doleman led three teammates in double figures with 18 points as Davis & Elkins College held off rival West Virginia Wesleyan for an 83-76 win Saturday in Mountain East Conference play at the McDonnell Center.
Backed by a large and lively crowd, the Senators (6-12, 4-8 MEC) spoiled the return to campus for former D&E coach Nick Patella, who left after last season to take the same position for the Bobcats.
The Senators took control early in the contest as a Erkam Kiris jumper at the 18:25 mark gave the hosts a quick 7-0 edge.
A score from Patrick Wilburn at 16:34 pushed the Davis & Elkins lead to 11-2, before the visitors battle back to eventually cut the lead to as little as three points (24-21) after a Dusan Vicentic layin with nine minutes left in the half.
The Senators outscored Wesleyan 20-11 for the remainder of the set to take a comfortable 44-32 lead into the half.
D&E opened the second half much like the first and pushed the lead to 17 points, at 55-38, after a 3-pointer from Doleman with 14:51 left in regulation.
The Bobcats (6-12, 5-7) chipped away and finally cut the deficit to as little as one point when a trey from Daylin Lee made it 77-76 with 45 seconds left.
But the Senators iced the win by connecting on 6 of 6 free throws down the stretch as Mandela Baledrokadroka, Doleman and Wilburn drained two apiece from the charity stripe.
Kiris followed Doleman in the scoring column for D&E with 17 points. Wilburn added 14 points and Myles Monroe tossed in 10.
Freshman Elliot White just missed double digits with nine points.
Vicentic's double-double of 29 points and 12 rebounds powered Wesleyan in the loss. Luka Petrovic followed with 16 points and eight caroms.
Both teams will be on the road Wednesday for more MEC play.
The Bobcats, who dropped their third straight game, will travel to Wheeling, while the Senators will visit MEC leader West Liberty.