Gbolahan Adio set the tone early on his way to a career high 33 points, while Devon Haid added 21, and RJ Ogom tallied 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in a season opening 89-76 win for the Notre Dame College Falcons in the opening game of the Hilton Garden Inn Tip-off Classic on the campus of Indiana (PA) at the Kovalchik Convention and Athletic Complex. With the win NDC improves to 1-0 on the season while UPJ fell to 0-1 in the young campaign.
"Good win to start the year," head coach Mark Richmond mentioned. Our depth and our defense was the difference in the second half."
"Great team effort and that's why we were able to get the win," Adio explained. Really proud of Robbie (Cass) especially with it being his first college game. He got me the ball in the spots that I needed it for much of the night. He really stepped up."
Andre Harris scored the opening basket of the NDC season before the next four points went the way of the Mountain Cats. After a Devin Haid jumper Andrew Schull and RJ Ogom traded 3-pointer's. The Mountain Cats took a 14-9 lead shortly thereafter. Adio would hit a pair of buckets but it would be the Mountain Cats who held a 20-13 advantage at the 12:01 mark of the opening stanza. Adio would then go to work as he would score the next 15 Falcons points. His back to back 3-pointer's gave the Falcons a 26-24 advantage and then the Richmond Heights product would add another jumper to stretch the NDC lead to four (28-24) with 7:50 in the opening stanza. After Haid hit a 3-pointer and Adio knocked down one of two free throws the Falcons lead was eight (34-26) with 4:14 in the opening half. Adio hit another 3-pointer at the 2:16 mark of the opening stanza and NDC led 40-32. A quick 6-0 run by the Mountain Cats cut the Falcons lead to two (40-38) but Adio added a layup on a second chance opportunity after an Ogom offensive rebound. After the Mountain Cats cut the lead to two Mark Richmond used a timeout with 17.8 seconds until halftime to draw up a play. That play was worked to perfection as an Ogom three-point play gave NDC a 45-40 halftime advantage.
Adio led the Falcons with 25 first half points, Ogom added eight and Haid tallied seven. NDC shot 47 percent from the field and 7-16 from the 3-point line in the opening stanza. They were 2-3 at the free throw line, had six turnovers and seven assists in the opening 20 minutes.
In the first half UPJ was led by Schull with 13 and Smith with 12. They shot 50 percent from the field and went 1-6 from the 3-point line. They were a perfect nine of nine at the free throw line. The Mountain Cats had five assists and 11 turnovers in the first half. They led on the glass 20-15 in the opening stanza.
Adio scored the first bucket of the second half but the next four points went to UPJ. After a Zuchelli 3-pointer cut the NDC lead to 49-47 after a rare Adio miss Haid secured the rebound and kicked it out to Kaleb Torrence who knocked down the 3-pointer. After Ogom made two free throws the lead was back to seven but it was a 5-0 Mountain Cats run that made it 56-54 at the 13:01 mark The Falcons would go on a 6-0 run as Ogom and Haid would give NDC a 64-56 lead after a Ogom layup off a steal by Haid at the 9:30 mark. NDC would stretch the lead to double digits on a pair of free throws by Ogom and a Haid 3-ball at the 6:41 mark. The Mountain Cats made one last push and got to within seven (79-72) after a Shull 3-pointer at the 2:19 mark. Andre Harris and Ogom would get back to back baskets to put this one in control of the Falcons. NDC would punctuate the season opening win with a pair of dunks in the final minute by Andre Harris and Haid.
Adio scored 33 points on an efficient 13-19 from the field in 37 minutes, he added three rebounds, two assists, and a steal and went 4-6 from the 3-point line. Haid was a perfect 2-2 from the 3-point line, went 7-14 from the floor and 5-5 at the free throw line. he added four rebounds an assist as well as two steals. Ogom was 7-11 from the field for 20 points to go with 11 rebounds. NDC shot 48 percent from the floor, 43 percent (9-21) from the 3-point line, and 78 percent (14-18) from the free throw line. They had 14 assists and 13 turnovers.
Richmond gave these thoughts:
"We've got a lot to work on but we've got a group that likes each other and plays together."
Adio gave his thoughts:
"Devin, RJ, and Andre were big for us as well tonight it was a great team effort. It feels good to start 1-0."
For the Mountain Cats Schull was 7-16 from the field and 3-7 from the 3-point line on his way to 19 points, Smith was 5-11 from the field and a perfect 7-7 at the free throw line for his 17 points, Headings was 7-14 from the floor as he netted 14 points, Kromka went 3-9 from the field and 14 from the 3-point line but a perfect 5-5 at the free throw line for his 12 points., while Zuchelli was 4-11 from the field and 2-7 from the 3-point line on his way to 10 points. UPJ shot 41 percent from the field, 27 percent (6-22) from the 3-point line and 93 percent (14-15) from the free throw line. They had 16 assists and 19 turnovers.
NDC will be back in action tomorrow (11/11) when they take on IUP. Tip time is set for 7:30 PM.
Adio gave this thought:
"We have to turn around and get ready for IUP tomorrow."
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