The Notre Dame College Falcons came away with a 78-63 win over Urbana at Murphy Gym on Saturday. With the win NDC improved to 6-12 and 4-8 in the MEC. Urbana fell to 4-14 and 3-9 in the MEC with the loss.
Coach Mark Richmond talked about the way they got it done:
"Like you said to hold a team to 30 points in a half and to get a balanced effort from our five starters is who we have to be. We can not afford for guys to have off nights. For whatever reason we did not come out with the same effort and intensity as we did the other night- but we were really good in the second half. That first five minutes of the second half was about as well as we can play defensively. We switched up our defenses- played some zone- and- really stuck together. We guarded really well.
Richmond continued about rebounding:
They did out rebound us today but it was really just one guy. Lacy had seven offensive rebounds. Obviously we have to do a better job in that aspect. Like I said earlier though the effort- and- enthusiasm was much better in the second half."
DeAnthony Owens got off to a fast start and led all scorers with 20 points in this one- as well as grabbing six rebound- and- picking up three steals. He was one of four NDC players to score in double figures on the day. Levi Frankland added 14- and- dished out six assists- Drew Scarberry scored 13 points- and- grabbed five rebounds- while Bruce Hodges stuffed the stat sheet with 12 points- five rebounds- five assists- and- a pair of steals.
NDC shot 53 percent as a team- 33 percent (7-21) from the 3-point line- and- 75 percent (15-20) from the free throw line. They had 17 assists- and- 11 turnovers in the contest.
Scarberry talked about the offense starting to click for this team:
" It all come down to ball movement in the second half. We really moved the ball well and had cutters." Scarberry mentioned.
Frankland agreed and talked about the importance of shot selection:
" When we share the ball and pass up good shots for great shots- we are a different team. We gotta be consistent with that for the rest of the year."Frankland stated.
Urbana was led by Shaunn Monroe with 15 points- Cleveland native Mario Lacy added a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds- while Tehree Horn scored 10 points- grabbed six rebounds- and- dished out three assists. The Blue Knights shot 45 percent from the field- 35 percent (8-23) from the 3-point line- and- 60 percent (3-5) at the free throw line. Urbana won the rebounding battle 32-29. They had 14 assists- and- 19 turnovers as a team.
Richmond talked about it being a win holding Urbana to five free throw attempts:
"Was a win no doubt holding them to five free throw attempts. We knew they were going to put their heads down and drive it- we practiced not fouling a lot this week.
The game began with Owens scoring the first 10 points for the Falcons but they would trail 14-10 after a pair of Owens free throws at the 14:38 mark. After a Scarberry lay up and Jordan Burton jumper the game would be tied at 14 with 12:41 in the opening half. A pair of Owens free throws at the 6:19 mark would give NDC a 25-24 advantage. Scarberry would drill a 3-pointer to stretch the lead to four but Urbana would tie the game again, this time at 28 after a Lacy layup at the 4:59 mark of the half. It would be 33-29 Urbana before four Burton free throws tied the game at 33 with 2:11 in the opening stanza. After the two teams traded buckets a Frankland 3-ball with 10 seconds left in the half gave the Falcons a 38-35 lead heading to the locker room.
NDC was paced by Owens with 14 points in the first 20 minutes- while Burton added nine in the half. The Falcons shot 46 percent in the opening stanza- 50 percent (5-10) from the 3-point line- and- 90 percent (9-10) from the foul line. The Falcons had seven assists- and- five turnovers in the half.
The Blue Knights were led by Monroe with nine in the opening stanza- while Lacy added eight. They shot 61 percent in the opening half- 44 percent (4-9)from the 3-point line- and- 75 percent (3-4) from the free throw line in the opening stanza. The Blue Knights led 13-11 on the glass in the half. They had seven assists- and- 10 turnovers in the half.
The Falcons came out with a purpose in the second half. The half would begin as Owens would convert a dunk after an alley-oop from Hodges. That would spark the Falcons in the second stanza. The lead would be stretched to 10 (47-37) after a Hodges layup with 15:44 to go. Urbana would get to within seven (49-42) after a Matt Ashley 3-pointer but NDC would have an answer. It would be a 11-0 NDC run that would put the home team in control 60-42 at the 10:09 mark after a pair of Jacob Sala free throws.
Richmond talked about the effort from the bench:
" Our bench is getting better. Like you said we don't play a lot of guys. Dan Lott is a guy who we trust- and- he really plays hard. Sala continues to improve. He scored it a little bit today. We need him to use that frame of his. He is a legit six-foot-10. We just need him to be more of an impact on defense. Our bench is for sure starting to develop though."
Urbana would get to within 13 at the 4:57 mark after a layup by Ryan but the Falcons would get a pair of layups from Hodges to all beat seal this one as the Falcons cruised to what would be a second straight win.
Richmond talked about Hodges playing more under control of late and how invaluable he is to this team:
"It did not feel like Bruce had 12 today I will tell you that much. He is invaluable to our team- he seems to be in the right place at the right time so often. One thing he has done a lot better on offense of late is getting two feet in the paint- and- playing more under control. He has been getting more easy baskets and assists because he has been doing that the last two or three games."
Scarberry talked about the difference in the game, as the Falcons scored 28 points off turnovers to 13 for the Blue Knights:
" On the defensive end we turned them over 19 times- that was the difference in the game."
Hodges talked about communication:
" We played together- we talked the whole game. That's what we need to do the whole game every game! Hodges said.
NDC will be back in action Wednesday when they close the home stand versus Concord. Tip time at Murphy Gym is set for 7:30 PM.
Other MEC Game Sat:
Davis & Elkins 83 West Virginia Wesleyan 76
Games Sunday:
Glenville State 89 Concord 74
Fairmont State 101 Frostburg State 85
West Virginia State 74 Charleston 72
West Liberty 98 Wheeling 86
MEC Standings:
West Liberty 10-2 (15-3)
Charleston 9-3 (15-3)
Fairmont State 8-4 (13-4)
West Virginia State 8-4 (13-4)
Glenville State 8-4 (11-7)
Wheeling 6-6 (9-7)
West Virginia Wesleyan 5-7 (6-12)
Frostburg State 4-8 (7-11)
NDC 4-8 (6-12)
Davis & Elkins 4-8 (6-12)
Concord 3-9 (5-12)
Urbana 3-9 (4-14)
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