The Notre Dame College Falcons (9-6 6-3 MEC) return home to face the University of Charleston (10-2 6-1 MEC) at Murphy Gym on Saturday. No spectators are permitted but you can catch all the action on the Mountain East Digital Network at MountainEast.TV. Tip time is slated for 4 PM.
NDC Head Coach Mark Richmond gave his thoughts ahead of this one:
"UC is a tough opponent. We are looking forward to being back home. UC is 10-2 so obviously it will be a tough challenge, "Richmond explained.
He also talked about how things have changed with no fans:
"Obviously it is not ideal.We still prepare the same way and shoot around is the same. Obviously it is better than the alternative which is not playing at all."
NDC is coming off a 83-73 loss to West Virginia State on Wednesday. Jaedon Willis paced NDC with 20 points, Tyland Crawford netted 13, DeAirius Barker netted 11 off the bench. NDC shot 45 percent from the field, 29 percent (6-21) from the 3-point line, and 64 percent (7-11) at the free throw line. As a team NDC is averaging an MEC sixth best 80.5 points per game, while they are allowing a MEC fifth best 79.7 points per game on the defensive end. They are shooting 47 percent from the field which is fifth in the MEC, they shoot an MEC second best 39 percent from the 3-point line, and shoot at a 72 percent clip which is sixth best in the MEC from the free throw line. On the glass NDC is being out-rebounded by 2.4 rebounds (34.5-36.9) which is ninth in the conference. NDC is third in the MEC dishing out 15.6 assists per night. They average 11.7 turnovers, 6.8 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game.
Willis is fourth in the MEC pacing 21.2 points per game, he shoots 38 percent from the 3-point line which is also fourth in the MEC. He averages 2.8 assists per night, and is tops in the MEC knocking down 3.2 made 3-pointer's per game. Crawford is getting 12.5 points per contest, and nabbing 5.7 rebounds per night. Mike Sampson is scoring 10.3 points per game, leading the team on the glass as he is hauling in a team high 8.4 rebounds per night, and leading the team in assists dishing out 2.9 assists per contest.
Richmond talked about what he expects on Saturday:
" We need to play well, limit turnovers, rebound, and play a 40 minute game to beat UC. We have been working on rebounding in practice as we got hurt by some big ones late the last couple games. I feel like on offense we just need to get into a rhythm. For whatever reason we never got into a rhythm on Wednesday. On defense we need to rebound and identify shooters.
UC is coming off a Covid pause as they have not played since January 5th. Richmond talked about that a little bit:
"I have seen it work both ways.Teams being excited to play right off the break. Or teams being a little rusty and it taking them a little time to get going off of a break this long."
The last time out was a 89-74 win for the Golden Eagles over the Bobcats. Keith Williams paced UC with 23 points, Eddie Colbert III netted 19, Jeremiah Keene scored 12,Lamont McManus/Shaunn Monroe each netted 11. Tyler Eberhart rounded out the players in double figures with 10. As a team Charleston shot 53 percent from the field,41 percent (11-27) from the 3-point line, and 94 percent (16-17) at the free throw line. As a team UC is fourth in the MEC scoring 85.4 points per game, on the defensive end they are the top team in the league allowing 71.8 points per night. They lead the MEC in field goal percentage (53 percent) and 3-point percentage (40 percent.) They are fifth in the MEC shooting 73 percent from the free throw line and lead the MEC in rebounding margin getting more than 10 rebounds per game more than the opposition. McManus leads five Golden Eagles getting 14.4 points per game. Seth O"Neal is getting 12.2 per night, and dishes out 5.1 assists per game which leads the team. Williams scores 11.9 points per game, Colbert puts up 11.8 per night and 5.9 rebounds per game. Isaiah Gable scores 11.5 points per contest.
Richmond gave his last thought:
"We are excited to play at home tomorrow. We have not played a complete game yet. We have played really well and done some good things in spurts. We have played 30-35 minutes really well, but the goal is to play a complete 40 minute game. Tomorrow is another opportunity to do that."
Tyland Crawford talked about this one:
" It is a big game for us tomorrow. It is good to be back home, "Crawford mentioned. " We dropped two close games the last two times out. We need to start game faster, close them out better. At this point it is more about us than the opponent. We just need to execute."
Other MEC Games Saturday:
Fairmont State @ West Liberty
Frostburg State @ Wheeling
Glenville State @ West Virginia Wesleyan
West Virginia State @ Alderson Broaddus
Concord @ Davis& Elkins
MEC Standings:
West Liberty 8-1 (14-1)
Charleston 6-1 (10-2)
Fairmont State 7-2 (12-2)
NDC 6-3 (9-6)
West Virginia State 5-3 (10-5)
Alderson Broaddus 4-4 (7-5)
Concord 4-5 (6-8)
Glenville State 3-5 (6-6)
Frostburg State 3-6 (5-10)
Wheeling 3-6 (4-11)
Davis & Elkins 2-6 (4-9)
West Virginia Wesleyan 0-9 (1-14)
Comentários