The Notre Dame College Falcons and Davis& Elkins Senators will battle for the second time Saturday- this time at Murphy Gym. In the first meeting between the two teams the Falcons prevailed in overtime back on 12/12.
Coach Mark Richmond talked about the significance of being at home this time around:
" We are really looking forward to being back at home and having a good crowd on Saturday. Hopefully we will shoot the ball a lot better than we did the other night."Richmond explained.
Bruce Hodges talked about the importance of this game:
" Its a must win."Hodges mentioned.
DeAnthony Owens agreed:
" Gotta win."Owens said emphatically.
NDC (7-14 5-10 MEC) is 6-4 at home on the season. Last time out they were a 90-63 loser at West Virginia Wesleyan. A trio of Falcons scored in double figures in the contest.Drew Scarberry led the way with 19 points- Levi Frankland added 14- while Jordan Burton chipped in 11 points- and- five assists. The Falcons shot 39 percent from the floor- 24 percent (6-25) from the 3-point line- and- 75 percent (21-28) from the free throw line. NDC comes into the contest sixth in the MEC in both offense and defense. The Falcons are scoring 78.2 points per night- while they allow 80.2 per game. In rebounding the Falcons are getting 34.7 rebounds per game- while they allow 34.9 rebounds per contest.
Richmond talked about the progression of rebounding:
" It is pretty much dead even when it comes to rebounding between us and our opponents. You just have to hold guys accountable. Rebounding is all about effort. If you just go hard all the time on both offense and defense you will get some boards. Teams do get tired but that is more than anytime when you have to win those head to head battles."
Frankland leads the Falcons and is eighth in the MEC scoring 17.9 points per game- while they shoot an MEC seventh best 55 percent from the floor. He also shoots at a 43 percent clip from the 3-point line. Owens is second on the team scoring 16 points per night- while he grabs 6.3 rebounds per contest. Owens shoots 50 percent from the field on the year. Scarberry is netting 15.3 points per game- grabbing 5.3 rebounds per night- and- is fourth in the MEC shooting at a 35 percent clip from the 3-point line. Jordan Burton is leading the team- and- seventh in the MEC in assists at 3.5 per game to go along with his 9.7 points per night. Scarberry- and- Frankland are fourth- and- sixth in the conference respectively in three point makes per contest at 2.6- and- 2.5.
In the first meeting with D&E the Falcons prevailed 87-77 in overtime. Scarberry led the way with 21 points- Burton- and- Frankland each had 17- while Owens netted 13. As a team in that one NDC shot 45 percent from the field- 29 percent (7-24-)from the 3-point line and- 71 percent from the free throw line (22-31.)
Richmond talked about bringing the A- game against D&E:
"Obviously they took us to overtime in the first meeting. They are good enough to beat us. They present a lot of match up problems for us especially on the defensive end."
Richmond talked about the progression of Frankland and Burton being underclassmen:
" Levi and JB are younger guys. This is the first time that they have really been through this 28 game season. Us being at game number 22 of this year. At some point guys who have not been through all of this are going to hit a wall. This time of year is when you separate the good teams from the bad ones. You just have to learn how to take care of your body. Teams are going to take away some things- and- you are going to have to do some things that you don't want to. With Levi and Jordan in particular we have to do a good job of getting them shots to get them going early."
The Senators (6-15 4-11 MEC) are coming off a tough 62-61 loss to Urbana at the buzzer Wednesday night. Donte Doleman led the way with 15 points- while Erkham Kiris tallied 13. They shot 45 percent as a team- 27 percent from the 3-point line- and- 60 percent (9-15) from the free throw line. As a team they score 72.3 points per game which is 11th in the MEC-- while they are allowing 81.2 points per game which is eighth in the conference. The Senators are 12th in the MEC when it comes to scoring margin on the season.
Doleman leads the way at 17.7 points per game- Erkham Kiris scores 14.6 per night to go with a team leading- and- MEC 10th best 6.5 rebounds per game- while Myles Monroe scores 12.7 per game. Mandela Baldedrokadroka leads the team in assists at 3.9 per night which is sixth in the MEC.
Richmond talked defense:
"It is going to come down to getting stops against this team. They have some players that are really tough to guard. Monroe really stepped up in the first meeting against us when he had 29 points- and- seven rebounds. Kiris has been a match up problem for teams all season. He had a really good first half against us- and- then he rolled an ankle. Doleman is another guy who can really score it. They have a few guys who can score inside and out."
Other MEC Games Saturday:
Concord @ Fairmont State
Glenville State @Frostburg State
West Virginia State @ Wheeling
West Virginia Wesleyan @ Urbana
Charleston @ West Liberty (Sun)
MEC Standings:
West Liberty 12-3 (17-4)
Charleston 11-4 (17-4)
Fairmont State 10-5 (15-5)
West Virginia State 10-5 (15-5)
Glenville State 10-5 (13-8)
Wheeling 8-7 (11-8)
West Virginia Wesleyan 7-8 (8-13)
Frostburg State 5-10 (8-13)
NDC 5-10 (7-14)
Concord 4-11 (7-14)
Davis & Elkins 4-11 (6-15)
Urbana 4-11 (5-16)
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