The WVU Tech Men’s Basketball team took on their final WVIAC opponent in the Baisi Center Thursday evening. Tech came into tonight’s match up with a 3-1 overall record and a 2-1 record against West Virginia Conference teams this season with their only loss coming at the hands of a talented Davis and Elkins squad. Since that loss, Tech has rattled off three straight victories by an average of 30 points.

The last time these two teams faced off on the same court was back in 2006 when both teams were competing in the WVIAC. That season, the Golden Bears handed the Blues two losses, reaching the century mark both times, 100-84 and 100-81.

Tonight’s game didn’t feature such prolific scoring as their previous match ups, but the result was similar. The Golden Bears struck quickly after controlling the opening tip, feeding the ball to Russel Allen down low for the games first points. Tech would build a 4 point lead in the next 5 minutes of play, only to see their lead slip away as Bluefield repeatedly made trips to the foul line, knotting the game at 10 a piece.

The Blues then went on to build a short lived lead of their own over the next 5 minutes only to have Tech regain control when David Henderson found an open Robby Marshall to take back the lead. The Golden Bears would finish the half by going on a 25-13 run to take a 45-13 advantage into the locker room at the half.

Both teams struggled to find a true rhythm in the second half of play with 24 total fouls committed in the half. Despite the choppy play, the Golden Bears managed to build a solid lead right after the break, extending it to as many as 23 points with 11 minutes remaining in the game.

The Blues would not go quietly. In the face of being down 23, Bluefield managed to chip and whittle the lead down to 12 with just under 3 minutes left in the game. But the Golden Bears would prove to be too much for the Blues to handle as they cruised to their 3rd straight victory, 88-69.

Tech’s Robby Marshall and Rickey Young lead all Tech scorer’s with 23 points and 9 rebounds each. Marshall dished out 3 assists in addition to his 1 block and 1 steal while Young swatted away 3 shot attempts and added 1 assist and a steal in the winning effort. Senior, Zach Thomsen, lead all players with 6 assists on the night. Darryl Slack also had a solid outing for the Golden Bears, scoring a quiet 17 points with 4 assists and 2 steals.

The Golden Bears will have a short break before hitting the road to Maryland to take on Coppin State in and exhibition this Saturday. Tip off is set for 7:30pm.