The Notre Dame College Falcons (8-6 5-4 MEC) look to snap a two game losing streak when they travel to the University of Charleston (West Virginia) to take on the Golden Eagles (10-5 7-2 MEC) at the Wherle Innovation Center. Tip off is set for 4 PM tomorrow (Saturday.)
"We look forward to the opportunity against another tough opponent in Charleston on Saturday, "head coach Mark Richmond said."
NDC is coming off a hard fought 88-82 loss to #17 West Virginia State on Wednesday night. Jaedon Willis poured in a game high and the second most he has this season with 28 in the contest. Andre Harris had a monster game as he tallied 16 points and a game high 17 rebounds, which was the most rebounds in an NDC game since 2019. DeAirius Barker scored 13 of his 15 points in the first half and Tyland Crawford also scored in double figures with 11. NDC shot 42 percent from the field, 38.5 percent (10-26) from the 3-point line and 87.5 percent (14-16) from the free throw line in the loss.
NDC ranks fifth in the Mountain East Conference scoring 83.1 points per game while defensively they are second in the MEC allowing 75.7 points per night. They shoot 44.9 percent from the field which is eighth in the MEC but lead the conference holding the opposition to 40.5 percent shooting from the floor. The Falcons are fourth in the MEC shooting at a 36.8 percent clip from the 3-point line where as defensively they are second in the conference only allowing the opposition to shoot 29.2 percent from the 3-point line. The Falcons are shooting 73.4 percent at the free throw line which also ranks second in the conference. NDC is being out rebounded by 0.1 (40.0-40.1) rebounds per contest.
Willis leads the Falcons pumping in a game high 20.9 points per game. The senior from Baltimore is third in the conference shooting 41.6 percent from the 3-point line and is making 2.6 3-pointer's per contest which is fourth in the MEC. Willis is also shooting an MEC second best 86.7 percent from the free throw line. He is joined in double figures by Harris who scores 10.6 points per game and leads the team grabbing 7.2 rebounds per night which is fourth in the conference. Barker puts up 9.9 points per game and also leads the team in assists (2.9 per night.)
"We've got to finish games better and have more energy towards the end, "Willis explained. "
UC is riding a five game win streak. The most recent being a 69-55 win at Alderson Broaddus on Wednesday. CJ Meredith led UC with 16 while Tyler Eberhart and Eddie Colbert each tallied 14. The Golden Eagles shot 50.8 percent from the field, 20 percent (4-20) from the 3-point line, and 25 percent (1-4) from the free throw line in the contest.
The Golden Eagles are scoring 79.7 points per game which is good for seventh in the conference but lead the MEC allowing 72.3 points per night. They shoot an MEC third best 48.9 percent from the field and are fifth in the opponent field goal percentage as the opposition shoots 43.7 percent from the floor on the season. They are sixth in 3-point percentage both offensively and defensively as they shoot 35.9 percent from the 3-point line and the opposition shoots 34.4 percent from the 3-point line. They are last in the conference in free throw shooting (67.6 percent from the foul line.) On the glass UC is fifth out rebounding the opposition by 0.7 (36.3-35.7) rebounds per contest.
Colbert leads the season box score putting up 13 points per game, Eberhart scores 12.9 and also hauls in a team leading 7.1 rebounds per night, while Keith Williams tallies 11.5 per contest. Jeremiah Keane leads the team and is sixth in the conference dishing out 4.1 assists per night. Eberhart is also ninth in the league in blocked shots swatting 1.1 shots per contest.
Willis gave this thought:
" Our last two losses have been more on us than anything so tomorrow is an opportunity to correct our mistakes."
Other MEC Games Saturday:
West Virginia Wesleyan @ Glenville State
West Liberty @ Fairmont State
Alderson Broaddus @ West Virginia State
Wheeling @ Frostburg State
Davis & Elkins @ Concord
MEC Standings:
West Liberty 9-0 (14-1)
West Virginia State 8-1 (14-1)
Charleston 7-2 (10-5)
Fairmont State 6-3 (11-4)
Concord 6-3 (9-4)
Glenville State 5-4 (9-6)
NDC 5-4 (8-6)
Davis & Elkins 3-6 (9-6)
Alderson Broaddus 3-6 (4-9)
Frostburg State 1-8 (5-10)
West Virginia Wesleyan 1-8 (1-12)
Wheeling 0-9 (2-13)
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