The Notre Dame College Falcons head to #16 West Liberty on Tuesday night. Tip time is set for 7:30 PM and you can catch all the action on NotreDameFalcons.com from the Academic Sports and Recreation Center.
Coach Mark Richmond talked about the challenge ahead:
" This is going to be a really big test for our guys. Obviously the results have not been what we have wanted thus far but we have had some good moments as a team. A really high scoring game against Wright State Lake." Richmond said.
Richmond continued about what West Liberty has been able to do:
"They have been doing it in a variety of ways for the past 10 years. They have done it just about as well as anyone."Richmond mentioned.
Larenz Thurman talked about the matchup:
" Big game tomorrow. We have to go in expecting to win instead of letting them punch us in the mouth first."
Bruce Hodges agreed:
We gotta be ready to play. We can't lose our minds. They are gonna be doing a lot and we can't let it scare us."
NDC (1-4 0-1 MEC) is coming off a busy week, as they played three games last week. On Monday in the home opener they were a 70-66 loser to Edinboro. Then on Wednesday the Falcons got the first win of the Mark Richmond era with a 132-71 drubbing of Wright State Lake. Then on Saturday NDC was pasted 89-58 by Wheeling. Bryce Douglas has led the Falcons in scoring in each of the last two games. The freshman from Clifton, Va had 27 points against Wright State Lake- and- then scored 13 in the loss to Wheeling. Larenz Thurman netted 12 points in the Wheeling contest. Jordan Burton also tallied 11 against the Cardinals. Dae John Walker-Bey had 11 points- and- 12 rebounds as well. NDC shot 40 percent as a team- 27 percent from the 3-poi
nt line- and- 79 percent (11-14) from the free throw line in the contest. Wheeling won the rebounding battle 35-31.
As a team NDC is scoring 78.6 points per game- while they allow 78 points per contest. The Falcons have struggled from the 3-point line where they have shot 29 percent on the season. They shoot 73 percent as a team from the free throw line. NDC is +3.4 on the boards on the season (39.2-35.8.) They also have averaged 14.6 assists as a team on the year.
Frankland leads the season box score putting up 17 points per contest- while he grabs 5.8 rebounds per game. Thurman scores 13.2 points per night- and- leads the team dishing out 3.8 assists per night. Douglas is scoring 12.3 per game, while shooting 56 percent from the field- and- 46 percent from the 3-point line. Burton is averaging 10.6 points to go along with 2.8 assists- while Walker-Bey is leading the team in rebounding at eight rebounds a game.
Richmond talked about what he is looking for this week and having a chance to regroup:
" Effort is the biggest thing that I will be preaching this week. I looked out there against Wheeling late and we had a bunch of walk on's out there. We have had our challenges this year, and we have responded to most of them. We will continue to be short-handed until we continue to get some of these guys back in the next week or two. We will then take a couple of days to regroup after thanksgiving."
West Liberty (4-1 1-0 MEC) is coming off a 101-76 win at Urbana on Saturday. The Hilltoppers lone loss came 98-83 to Daemen College on 11/16. West Liberty was paced by Dalton Bolon who scored 25 points against Urbana. Pat Robinson scored 19 against the Blue Knights- while Malik Mckinney tallied 14- Preston Boswell chipped in 12. As a team the Hilltoppers are scoring 112.4 points per game- while they give up 81 points per contest. West Liberty shoot 41 percent from the 3-point line as a team- and- 76 percent at the free throw line. On the boards the Hilltoppers are plus 10 (44-34) on the season. One of the big advantages the pressing style of West Liberty gives them is they have forced the opponents into 23.4 turnovers per night.
Drew Scarberry talked about his team's mindset:
"We just have to slow down and play our style of game. We need to take what they give us."Scarberry said."
Bolon leads the way for West Lib scoring 24 points per game- while also grabbing a team leading 6.4 rebounds per contest. Bolon has been on fire in the early season as he is shooting 50 percent from the 3-point line. Robinson is next on the score sheet putting up 18 points per night- while the Wheeling transfer Boswell and Will Yoakum score 13.2 per contest. Marlon Moore Jr. is averaging 10.4 points- and- five rebounds per night. Mckinney leads the team in assists at more than three per game.
NDC will take a break after Tuesday's contest and be back in action on 12/4 when they host Glenville State. Tip time is set for 7:30 PM.
Other MEC Games Tuesday:
Concord@West Virginia State
Fairmont State@West Virginia Wesleyan
Glenville State@Charleston
Urbana@Wheeling
Frostburg State@Davis and Elkins
MEC Standings:
Glenville State 1-0 (4-0)
Wheeling 1-0 (3-0)
West Liberty 1-0 (4-1)
Concord 1-0 (3-3)
Davis and Elkins 1-0 (3-3)
West Virginia Wesleyan 1-0 (1-5)
Charleston 0-1 (4-1)
West Virginia State 0-1 (3-1)
Fairmont State 0-1 (2-1)
Frostburg State 0-1 (1-4)
NDC 0-1 (1-4)
Urbana 0-1 (1-4)
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