The Notre Dame College Falcons got a season high 44 points from Will Vorhees to go along with 15 rebounds- Larenz Thurman added 25 and dished out six assists- while Isaiah Sanders rounded out the double digit scorers with 12. Hamish Warden was a perfect 4 of 4 from the field for his nine points- but it was Dan Lott who was a big difference maker in Thursday's 106-98 win at the Waco Center. This is what Coach Tim Koenig said:
" Dan Lott had not played in how many games- and- he is the catalyst for the run that was the difference in the game. The bench gave us a huge lift tonight- not only Dan Lott but Isaiah-and- Hamish were really good. They scrapped- made hustle plays- and- pressured on defense in that segment to end the half." Koenig said.
The Falcons (17-6 13-4 MEC) shot 58 percent as a team in the contest. They shot 28 percent (7-25) from the 3-point line- and- 68 percent (15-22) from the free throw line. NDC won the rebounding battle 45-29. They had 19 assists-and- five turnovers as a team.
Koenig talked about getting the ball in his best guys hands:
"Whenever the ball is Will and Larenz's hands that is a good thing for us. They got to the rim- didn't settle for jump shots- and- they had one turnover between them. Not only themselves but they get other guys shots as well."
The Pioneers (9-14 4-13 MEC) were led by Elisha Mayberry with 23 points- Jamal Pollydore netted 21 and dished out eight assists- Noah Frampton scored 18- Phil Bledsoe chipped in 16- and- Kalin Johnson contributed 10.
Glenville shot 52 percent as a team- 41 percent (14-34) from the 3-point line- and- 70 percent (16-23) from the free throw line. They had 17 assists and seven turnovers as a team.
Koenig talked about the opponent tonight:
"You have to give Glenville State credit- they made shots especially early in the game. They really hurt us from the 3-point line- but we need to play better defense than that."
Glenville would come out and score the first six points of the contest. Vorhees would score the next six- but it would be the Pioneers who would take a 21-15 lead with 13:17 in the opening half after a Pollydore 3-pointer.
Koenig talked about the first seven minutes of the game when asked about Glenville playing 2-3 zone and a lack on energy in the building:
"We can't make any excuses. Offense was not a problem but defense and rebounding were not as good at the beginning of the game." Koenig explained.
Bruce Hodges agreed:
" Very big win tonight. Those guys are better than a lot of people think."
GSC would lead by nine (34-25) with 9:06 in the opening half. After a Frampton old fashioned three-point play at the 6:46 mark of the half the lead would remain nine (40-31.) After being down five (47-42) the Falcons would go on a 12-0 run capped by a Dan Lott layup with 2:03 in the opening stanza. NDC would carry a eight point lead (59-51) into the locker room.
"During that run at the end of the half we did not settle. We beat them up in the paint." Koenig stated.
Sanders agreed:
" We struggled at first on defense but we turned it up after things started to get chippy. They gave us a fight tonight."
Hodges explained the bench's impact:
" The bench gave us life tonight.
In the opening half NDC was led by Vorhees with 24 points and eight rebounds- while Thurman added 18. They shot 60 percent as a team in the opening half- 36 percent (5-14) from the 3-point line- and- 67 percent (10-15) from the free throw line. They had 12 assists and four turnovers in the half- but led the rebounding battle 25-10.
The Pioneers were led by Mayberry with 15- and- Frampton with 12. They shot 55 percent as a team- 53 percent (9-17) from the 3-point line- and- 75 percent (6-8) from the free throw line. They had 11 assists and five turnovers in the half.
Much like the first half it was a Pioneers run that began the second half. Pollydore would hit a 3-pointer that gave GSC the lead back 68-67 at the 14:57 mark of the contest. The game would be knotted again- this time at 77 with 11:15 to go. A pair of Warden layups off feeds from Hodges would give the Falcons the lead back. The lead would then be stretched to nine (94-85) at the 4:33 mark after a pair of Vorhees free throws. After a Bledsoe 3-pointer cut it back to six- Hodges would get a put back on an offensive rebound to put the Falcons firmly in control. The Falcons would finish it off from there.
Hodges talked about Thurman and Vorhees as well as the win: " Very big win tonight. Will and Renz were really good as always.
Sanders agreed:
" It was a good team win like always. They couldn't handle Will or Renz which opened the door for the rest of us to rebound and score.
NDC will be back in action Saturday when they face West Virginia Wesleyan on the road. Tip time is set for 4 PM. As always you can catch all the action on NotreDameFalcons.com
Other MEC Scores Thursday:
Fairmont State 93 Virginia Wise 66
West Virginia Wesleyan 76 Urbana 70
Concord 77 Shepherd 76
Charleston 80 Wheeling Jesuit 73
West Liberty 131 West Virginia State 100
MEC Standings:
West Liberty 16-1 (20-2)
Fairmont State 14-3 (17-6)
NDC 13-4 (17-6)
Charleston 11-6 (16-7)
Concord 10-7 (15-8)
West Virginia State 9-8 (12-11)
Shepherd 7-10 (11-12)
West Virginia Wesleyan 7-10 (10-13)
Glenville State 4-13 (9-14)
Virginia Wise 4-13 (7-16)
Wheeling Jesuit 4-13 (5-18)
Urbana 3-14 (5-16)
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