Box Score PORTSMOUTH, Ohio — Shawnee State (8-3, 1-0) defeated West Virginia Tech (WV) (3-7, 0-1), 70-63, at Waller Gymnasium in Wednesday night's league-opening contest in River States Conference play. The win for Shawnee State marked its sixth consecutive victory following a 2-3 start to the 2025-26 campaign.

Behind a first half-high of eight points from senior Jareon Mayo on 3-of-7 shooting (including 2-of-5 from three-point range), Shawnee State jumped out to a 33-25 lead in the first half of Wednesday's conference meeting with West Virginia Tech. Along with Mayo, senior Tyreon Payne notched seven points and three steals in the first half -- with four other Bears scoring in the frame as well.

Despite falling behind early in the contest, West Virginia Tech wasn't done just yet as the Golden Bears put up 38 points in the second half on 5-of-10 shooting from beyond-the-arc and converting 7-of-9 attempts from the free-throw line.

Shawnee State was able to counter West Virginia Tech's most productive half of the night with that of their own, notching 37 points in the frame to keep the Golden Bears in the rear-view mirror -- cementing the night's 70-63 final.

Junior Rheyce DeBoard paced the Bears in second half scoring with seven points on 3-of-5 shooting (1-of-2 from deep), while Mayo added six more on to what would eventually be his team-high 14 points, along with six rebounds, three steals and two assists.

Payne collected six more points in the second half to bring his nightly total to 13 points, along with four steals, four assists and three rebounds.

Junior Kiante Williams finished with 10 points, a team-high seven rebounds, three assists and a steal, while both DeBoard and senior El Sieger tallied nine points.

West Virginia Tech's Jackson Tackett led both teams in scoring with a game-high 16 points -- 10 of which came in the second half.

Shawnee State has now won back-to-back games over the Golden Bears of West Virginia Tech -- along with eight of the last nine.

Up Next

The Bears will return to action on Wednesday, Dec. 17 when they host Wright State Lake University at Waller Gymnasium. Jump ball at 8 p.m.