The Notre Dame Falcons will look to get the teams first home win in three attempts Wednesday when they welcome the West Virginia State Yellow Jackets to Murphy Gym. The Falcons come into the contest with a 6-2 record, that includes a 3-1 mark in the MEC. The Yellow Jackets come in with a record of 2-5 and 1-3 in the MEC. You can catch all the action on NotreDameFalcons.com as tip time is set for 7:30 PM.
NDC is coming off a 103-93 loss to now eighth ranked West Liberty on Sunday. The trio of Will Vorhees- Larenz Thurman- and- Halil Parks combined for 75 of the 93 points in that one. When asked about the biggest takeaway from the game Bruce Hodges had these thoughts:
" That we can beat those guys. They have had our number at our place. We had a few to many turnovers and gave up a couple offensive rebounds that cost us, but we really believe 1-20 including the coaching staff that we can beat those guys."
Vorhees is leading the season box score for the Falcons averaging 23.1 points and 10.4 rebounds per night. Thurman averages 21.6 points per night- while Isaiah Sanders (14.8 ppg and Halil Parks (14.4 ppg) also average in double figures. Angelo Cugini has been solid as well, as he nearly averages a double-double. Cugini is averaging 9.8 points and a team leading 12.3 rebounds per contest. The Falcons have out rebounded the opponent by 2.3 rebounds a night (40.8- 38.5.) NDC is averaging 83.4 points per game- while they allow 77.9 points per contest.
West Virginia State comes into the game on a four game losing streak. The last time out they were a 98-91 loser to Concord. Pat Johnson-Agwu scored 26 points- Ernest Jenkins had 21- Glen Abrom added 19- and- Isaiah Noel had 17.
Johnson-Agwu leads the Yellow Jackets in scoring at 22.7 points per game- Gus Stone nets 17 per night- Jenkins is scoring 16.4 per game- and- Abrom scores 14.4 per game. Jeremiah Moore leads the team in assists at three per game. As a team the Yellow Jackets score 84.7 points per game but they allow 88.6 points per contest.
Hodges talked about the Yellow Jackets:
" They have a lot of good players. I know Ernie (Jenkins) he is a really good shooter. The 2-5 record is a little deceiving. Coach Poore will have his guys ready to play.
On his goal for the night:
" My goal is the same for every game. Whoever I match up against, to hold him under his average. That is what I pride myself on."
On the physicality of the opponent:
" We are up for the challenge if the game becomes physical. We have some big guys including the best big man in the nation. We are not going to back down."
On a bounce-back game for he and Sanders:
" Zay was really down on himself after the West Liberty game. Not that he played badly but I expect a big game from him. As for me I got four fouls in the first half in five minutes of play. I obviously can not do that again if I am going to help my teammates the way that I want to."
Coach Koenig talked about the game in front of the team:
" It is a big game for us. A conference game after a loss. West Virginia State is a really athletic team. Jenkins has been a guy that has hurt us in the past. Johnson-Agwu is another guy who has hurt us in the past and he is one of the best players in our league"
On handling the West Virginia State pressure:
" We have our work cut out for us against these guys. We work on our press advancement every day. Sometimes for just 5-10 minutes, but we will work on it more against a team like West Virginia State because we know they traditionally press more than other teams in our league. They will also trap us in the half court. We have worked a lot against that the last few days."
Other MEC Games Wednesday:
Shepherd @West Liberty
Concord @Glenville State
Fairmont State @ Wheeling Jesuit
Virginia Wise @West Virginia Wesleyan
Charleston @Urbana
MEC Standings:
West Liberty 4-0 (6-1)
Fairmont State 4-0 (6-2)
NDC 3-1 (6-2)
Concord 3-1 (5-2)
Glenville State 2-2 (5-2)
Shepherd 2-2 (5-2)
Virginia Wise 2-2 (4-
4)
Charleston 1-3 (5-3)
West Virginia Wesleyan 1-3 (3-4)
Urbana 1-3 (2-5)
West Virginia State 1-3 (2-5)
Wheeling Jesuit 0-4 (0-7)
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