The Notre Dame College Falcons and Glenville State Pioneers will battle in a key MEC clash at Murphy Gym on Thursday night. The Falcons come into the game with a record of 8-4 overall and 4-2 in the MEC. While the Pioneers come into the contest with a record of 7-5 and 2-4 in the MEC. You can catch all the action on NotreDameFalcons.com with the tip at 7:30 PM.
Bruce Hodges talked about the challenge ahead:
" We have to come out and be ready to play from the jump. We are going to defend better than the last game."
Assistant Coach John Wakelin talked about the matchup with Glenville:
Glenville has some shooters on there team for sure. Bledsoe and Pollydore as well as the Johnson's can shoot it. We need to get out on there shooters and when the help side needs to be there we need to get to that as well. We also need to stop penetration so that will prevent the open looks."
Koenig talked about the changes in personnel for Glenville as well as getting some bounce back games from a trio of players:
" The game against Cheyney on Sunday and since they have had some changes in personnel means that they have played some more zone. It means longer possessions as well. Bruce is a guy who we count on for energy. He will defend the best player on the other team. Bruce will start and those things will still be true tomorrow. We are not going to shy away from any guys as we have confidence in them. You will see us play four guards a lot tomorrow.Zay and Renz both had rough games on Saturday and I look for them to bounce back tomorrow. We have all the confidence in Renz when he has the ball in his hands. We do not turn the ball over when it is in his hands, sometimes he has to take a tough shot at the end of the shot clock but we have all the confidence in him that he will break out of this shooting slump. We may try and get him another minute or two rest and go to a guy like Kam tomorrow."
On the biggest thing that needs to change:
" We got away from playing hard every possession and that was the biggest thing about this last game that needs to change. We just need to get back to playing the right way tomorrow."
Vorhees gave his thoughts:
" Rebounding will be a big key tomorrow. Not only from myself but the guards will be big on the boards as well."
NDC is coming off an 86-78 loss at Lake Erie on Saturday. Will Vorhees led the way with 25 points and 16 rebounds in the defeat- Larenz Thurman added 16- and- Bruce Hodges netted 14 in the defeat. The Falcons are led individually by Vorhees who is averaging a double-double (23.6 points and 10.9 rebounds per game-) Thurman is putting up 18.7 points per game and leading the team in assists at 5.2 per night. The transfer from Tri-C is shooting 87 percent from the free throw line on the season. Isaiah Sanders is scoring 13.2 points per game- to go along with four rebounds a night. Halil Parks is also averaging in double figures at 11.6 points per game- while Angelo Cugini is averaging 9.1 rebounds a game to go with his 9.1 points per contest. The Falcons are averaging a league ninth best 82.8 points per game as a team while they allow 78.2 points per game which is good for second in the MEC. The Falcons are fifth in the MEC in scoring margin on the year. NDC also leads the conference in free throw shooting- shooting at a 79 percent clip on the season.
Sanders talked about bouncing back from a tough loss last time out:
" We need to bounce back from Saturday's rough game. They are aggressive- we have to rebound and match there physicality. We have to get out on there shooters and get to help side on there drivers. We need to play hard and strong."
Thurman agreed and talked about what will ultimately decide this one:
" As long as we defend, and force these guys into taking tough shots we should come out with the W. We have to finish each possession on the defensive end with a rebound and get our transition going."
The Pioneers are coming off a 79-67 win at Cheyney last time out. Kalin Johnson led the way with 21 points- Phil Bledsoe scored 19- and- Jamal Pollydore knocked down five 3-pointer's on his way to 18 points. They are shooting 35 percent from the 3-point line as a team. The Pioneers are the top team in the MEC as far as 3-point makes go knocking down 12.6 triples per contest. GSC has struggled on the glass though where they are -3 on the season. As a team Glenville averages a league second best 98.0 points per game as a team on the offensive end- while they allow 97.9 points a game on the defensive end which is last in the MEC.
Bledsoe is leading the season box score for the Pioneers averaging 16.8 points and 10.6 rebounds rebounds per game- Davion Johnson is netting 16 points per game to go along with 8.7 rebounds per game. Pollydore is scoring 14.5 points per game- and- Kalin Johnson is scoring 10.9 a night.
Other MEC Games Thursday:
Shepherd @Concord
West Virginia State @West Liberty
West Virginia Wesleyan @Urbana
Fairmont State @Virginia Wise
Charleston @Wheeling Jesuit
MEC Standings:
Fairmont State 6-0 (9-3)
Concord 5-1 (9-2)
West Liberty 5-1 (9-2)
NDC 4-2 (8-4)
Charleston 3-3 (8-4)
Shepherd 3-3 (7-5)
Virginia Wise 3-3 (5-6)
Glenville State 2-4 (7-5)
West Virginia State 2-4 (5-7)
West Virginia Wesleyan 2-4 (5-7)
Urbana 1-5 (3-7)
Wheeling Jesuit 0-6 (1-11)
Atlantic Region Rankings:
1. Indiana (PA) 13-1
2. West Liberty 9-2
3. Fairmont State 9-3
4. Concord 9-2
5. Shippenburg 12-3
6. Virginia State 10-3
7. East Stroudsburg 9-4
8. Lincoln (Pa) 11-4
9. Pitt-Johnstown 9-4
10. Chowan 10-1
tie 10. MercyHurst 8-3
Receiving Votes:
NDC 4
Slippery Rock 3
West Chester 3
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