The Notre Dame College Falcons host #23 West Liberty in a MEC matchup on Saturday at Murphy Gym. Tip time is slated for 4:30 PM. You can catch all the action on MountainEast.TV and can catch the LiveStats in real time at NotreDameFalcons.com
Coach Mark Richmond talked about the matchup:
"West Liberty will be a great measuring stick for us, Richmond mentioned. We opened the season with West Lib about five weeks ago. This will give us an opportunity to see how much we have improved since then."
NDC (4-6 4-6 MEC) is coming off a 77-65 loss at Alderson Broaddus on Wednesday night, that snapped a brief two game win streak. A pair of Falcons scored in double figures in the contest. Jordan Roland led the way with 15 points- while Tyland Crawford had 11 off the bench. A trio of players scored nine points in the game, Mike Sampson being one of them. Sampson nearly had another double-double, as he had 10 rebounds to go along with the nine points.
The Falcons shot 44 percent from the field, and 39 percent (5-13) from the 3-point line - as well as 83 percent (10-12) from the free throw line against AB. The Falcons had just two assists- and- 17 turnovers in the contest, which led Richmond to make this statement:
" We were not the tougher team tonight. Two assists- and- 17 turnovers is not a winning formula."
NDC comes into Saturday ninth in the MEC on the offensive end scoring 76.9 points per game- while on the defensive end they are allowing a MEC fifth best 79.9 points per game. They are fourth in the MEC in rebounding margin at +3.4 (37.7-34.3.) The Falcons are second in the conference in both 3-point percentage (38 percent) and free throw percentage (73 percent.)
Roland leads the team in scoring putting up 18.3 points per game. He is also the team leader, and 10th in the MEC averaging 3.2 assists per night. Burton is also scoring in double figures at 13.4 points per game. The sophomore from Toledo is leading the MEC in 3-point percentage (51 percent-) and- is making 2.3 3-pointer's per game. Crawford is putting up 12.5 points- and- 5.7 rebounds per contest. Sampson is also averaging in double figures at exactly 10 points per game. The junior from Houston, TX is also leading the team with a MEC fourth best 9.3 rebounds per game. Sampson leads the conference in offensive rebounds at 3.4 per contest.
West Liberty (8-3 8-3 MEC) is coming off a 119-76 thrashing of Wheeling on Wednesday. They had seven players post double figures in that contest led by Pat Robinson with 26 points. Dalton Bolon added 19 points- and- nine rebounds, Will Yoakum scored 15, both Malik McKinney, and Owen Hazelbaker tallied 11. Zach Rasille, and Marlon Moore rounded out the double digit scorers with 10 points each. The Hilltoppers shot 54 percent from the field- 46 percent (13-28) from the 3-point line- and- 78 percent (14-18) from the free throw line in the contest.
West Liberty is leading the MEC putting up 106.2 points per night, while they allow a MEC fourth best 79.8 points per night. They also are the top rebounding team in the conference, as they have more than an 11 rebound advantage on the opposition. They are third in the league, just behind NDC in 3-point percentage, and are leading the league in 3-point percentage defense, allowing their opponents to shoot just 29 percent from the 3-point line.
Richmond talked about the Hilltoppers:
"They hit a rough patch and lost three games in a row, but they have won their last four games by 32,39,47, and 39 points. They are playing as well as anyone in the country right now."
Bolon leads the team, and is fourth in the MEC scoring 21.8 points per contest. He is also grabbing a MEC seventh best 8.1 rebounds per contest, as well as making 44 percent of his 3-point attempts, which is also seventh in the MEC. Bolon leads the league in free throw percentage, shooting at a 93 percent clip.Robinson is seventh in the conference putting up 20.2 points per game- and- is fourth in the MEC shooting at a 47 percent clip from the 3-point line. Yoakum (16.2 ppg-) and- Bryce Butler (10.2 ppg) also average double figures on the year. Luke Dyer is leading the team with a MEC fifth best 4.5 assists per game.
The two teams met in the opener back on 1.7 with the Hilltoppers coming away with a 98-77 win. Burton (24-) and- Roland (17) led NDC in that one. On the other side they had four score in double figures led by Robinson with 20- and- Bolon with 20 points- and- 10 rebounds. Butler (18-) and- McKinney (10) also scored in double digits in the first meeting.
Richmond talked about his team's response tomorrow:
"I am anxious to see how our team responds after a poor performance on the road on Wednesday night."
Roland gave his thoughts about the contest:
"We have to take care of the ball, and not get out rebounded. Overall we just have to compete, and play hard, Roland explained.
Other MEC Games Saturday:
Alderson Broaddus @ Frostburg State
West Virginia State @ Glenville State
Wheeling @ Fairmont State
Davis & Elkins @ Concord
Charleston @ West Virginia Wesleyan
MEC North:
Fairmont State 7-2
West Liberty 8-3
Alderson Broaddus 6-5
NDC 4-6
Frostburg State 3-7
Wheeling 2-6
MEC South:
Charleston 9-2
Glenville State 7-2
West Virginia State 6-4
Concord 4-5
Davis & Elkins 3-6
West Virginia Wesleyan 0-11
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