The Notre Dame College Falcons will stay on the road Wednesday as they will battle the University of Charleston Golden Eagles at the Wherle Innovation Center. Tip time is slated for 7:30 PM. You can catch all the action on the Mountain East Digital Network at MountainEast.TV
NDC head coach Mark Richmond talked about the matchup:
"Huge opportunity tomorrow (Wednesday) on the road, "Richmond explained. "I'm proud of our team and how they have continued to improve and progress this season."
NDC (15-9 12-6 MEC) is riding a five game win streak. Last time out they won 74-63 at Frostburg State. Jaedon Willis led NDC with 21 points, Mike Sampson scored 19 to go along with eight rebounds and Daylin Lee come off the bench to tally 10. NDC shot 46 percent from the field and won the rebounding battle 33-28 in the contest. The Falcons come into Wednesday in the middle of the pack of the MEC as they are scoring an MEC sixth best 79.8 points per game, on the defensive end the Falcons are giving up an MEC third best 77.5 points per night. They are also sixth in the MEC shooting 47 percent from the field. The Falcons are shooting 37 percent from the 3-point line which is good for third in the conference and are sixth in the MEC shooting 73 percent at the free throw line. On the glass NDC is sixth in the MEC being out-rebounded by 1.2 (34.7-35.9) boards per contest. They are also third in the MEC dishing out 15.4 assists per contest. Willis, the reigning MEC Co-Player Of The Week leads the team, is fourth in the conference, as well as 22nd in the country scoring 20.6 points per game. The Baltimore native is fourth in the MEC shooting 38 percent from the 3-point line. Willis is also seventh in the conference shooting 82 percent at the free throw line. His 3.1 made 3-pointer's per night are second in the MEC as well. He also leads the team in assists per game at 3.3. Tyland Crawford tallies 12.1 points per contest and grabs 6.1 rebounds per game playing in a MEC ninth best 34.3 minutes per night. Sampson scores 10.9 points per game and is fifth in the MEC in both rebounds per game (8.3) and steals per game (2.0.)
Crawford gave his thoughts about this one:
"The biggest key is rebounding and executing our offense, "Crawford mentioned. We got out-rebounded by 13 last time we played and it's hard to win games losing the rebounding battle like that. Offensively, we have to move the ball early to find good shots to find a rhythm. We do things and we will have a good chance."
Charleston (19-5 13-3 MEC) has won three straight, the most recent being an 80-71 win over Davis& Elkins on Saturday. Lamont McManus led the Golden Eagles with 22 points and seven rebounds, Jeremiah Keene tallied 17, and Keith Williams netted 16. UC shot 50 percent from the field, 41 percent (7-17) from the 3-point line, and shot at a 94 percent clip (15-16) from the free throw line. The Golden Eagles are scoring an MEC fourth best 85.4 points per game on offense while defensively they are leading the MEC giving up 73.7 points per night. Charleston also leads the conference in field goal percentage shooting at a 53 percent clip. The Golden Eagles are fourth in the conference shooting at a 37 percent clip from the 3-point line. UC is also second in the conference shooting at a 76 percent clip from the free throw line. UC is seventh in the conference getting 14 assists per night while they lead the league on the boards getting 8.3 more rebounds (35.6-27.3) than the opposition. Eddie Colbert paces the Golden Eagles in scoring getting 14.2 points per night, he also leads the teams in rebounds (5.9) per night. He also shoots 87 percent from the free throw line on the season. Williams also averages in double figures at 12.8 points per game and shoots an MEC seventh best 52 percent from the field. McManus scores 11.8 per contest and is shooting at a blistering 62 percent clip from the field. Keene is also averaging in double figures putting up 11 points per night and is dishing out an MEC eighth best 3.7 assists per contest.
In the first meeting between the two teams back on 1/15 Charleston came away with a 73-64 win at Murphy Gym. McManus led the Golden Eagles with 20 points, Colbert had 15 to go along with eight rebounds, and Isaiah Gable tallied 11. UC shot 50 percent from the field in that game, 33 percent from the 3-point line (6-18) and 59 percent (13-22) from the free throw line.
NDC was paced in that contest by Willis with 21, Sampson netted 13 to go along with six boards, and DeAirius Barker netted 11. As a team the Falcons shot 46 percent in that defeat, 30 percent (7-23) from the 3-point line, and 61 percent (11-18) from the free throw line.
Richmond gave his final thoughts on this one:
"We've put ourselves in a position that these final games matter in the conference race. Going to Charleston and winning will be no easy task but i'm excited to see our guys compete."
Other MEC Games Wednesday:
Fairmont State @ Wheeling
Alderson Broaddus @ West Virginia State
Concord @ West Virginia Wesleyan
Frostburg State @ West Liberty
Glenville State @ Davis & Elkins
MEC Standings:
West Liberty 16-2 (22-2)
Fairmont State 14-4 (19-4)
Charleston 14-4 (19-5)
West Virginia State 14-4 (19-6)
NDC 12-6 (15-9)
Concord 8-10 (11-13)
Alderson Broaddus 8-10 (11-11)
Wheeling 7-11 (8-16)
Glenville State 6-11 (9-12)
Davis & Elkins 4-14 (6-18)
Frostburg State 4-14 (6-18)
West Virginia Wesleyan 1-17 (2-22)
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