The Notre Dame College Falcons (7-8 3-7 MEC) travel to Wheeling, West Virginia for a rematch with the Wheeling University Cardinals (5-10 2-7 MEC) this one being at the McDonough Center. You can catch all the action on MountainEast.TV as tip time is set for 7:30 PM.
"Pivotal road game at Wheeling tomorrow," NDC head coach Mark Richmond mentioned. "We are playing a desperate team who has lost four in a row. All of those being one or two possession games. Obviously we are going to have to play well and compete at a high level. We will have to do a good job on the MEC's leading scorer Marcus Johnson. He poses some interesting matchup problems for us. We will have to do a good job on him."
NDC is coming off a 77-63 loss at home to Fairmont State on Saturday. Josh Dames scored 13 points and Andre Harris scored 10 to lead NDC. The Falcons shot 35.9 percent from the floor, 44 percent (11-25) from the 3-point line and 50 percent (6-12) from the free throw line in the defeat. NDC is seventh in the conference scoring 82.5 points per game, is third in field goal percentage (43.7 percent) and is an MEC seventh best 34.2 percent shooting from the 3-point line. They are also ninth in the MEC shooting at a 70.9 percent clip from the free throw line.
Richmond talked about the offense:
"We will have to continue to share the ball and rebound it as well as share it on offense."
The Falcons dish out 15.47 assists a game which is good for fourth in the MEC.
On the defensive end the Falcons give up 82.9 points per game which is seventh in the conference, they are sixth in field goal percentage against (43.8 percent,) and eighth in 3-point defense against (35.3 percent.) On the glass NDC is being out rebounded by 1.8 (37.9-39.7) rebounds per game which is ninth in the MEC. The Falcons block 4.73 shots per game which is good for third in the MEC.
In the first meeting with Wheeling back in November RJ Ogom led the Falcons with 20 points while Haid had 17. Harris added eight points and 12 rebounds.
Haid leads the team in scoring at 13.7 points per game. The Wooster native gets 1.6 steals per game which is sixth in the MEC, swats 1.1 shots per game which is seventh in the league, and shoots a league second best 91.7 percent from the free throw line. Harris puts up 12.7 points per game to go along with an MEC sixth best 6.4 rebounds per night. The Brush product is just outside the top 10 in the MEC blocking 0.9 shots per game as well. Ogom puts up 12.5 points per game and leads the MEC shooting at a 93.2 percent clip from the free throw line. Gbolahan Adio scores 11 points per game and leads the team dishing out 2.5 assists per night.
Wheeling is coming off a 94-88 loss to Concord last time out. Johnson led Wheeling with 28, SJ Hutchinson had 14, William Gabbert had 13, and Kevin Coleman Jr. added 12. The Cardinals shot 43.4 percent from the field, 29 percent (9-29) from the 3-point line, and 87.5 percent (7-8) at the free throw line. As a team Wheeling scores an MEC fifth best 85.2 points per game, shoots 44.5 percent from the floor (seventh in the MEC,) 35.8 percent from the 3-point line (fourth in the MEC) and 75.7 percent from the free throw line (second in the MEC.) On defense they they give up an MEC ninth best 85.1 points per game, 47.4 percent shooting (seventh in the MEC,) 34.2 percent from the 3-point line (seventh in the MEC.) On the glass the Cardinals are seventh out-rebounding the opposition by 0.3 (37.8-37.5) rebounds per night.
Johnson leads the league in scoring (22.6 points per game) and rebounding (7.9 per night.) The Akron native shoots an MEC third best 48.6 percent from the floor, Johnson shoots an MEC eighth best 88.2 percent at the free throw line. Johnson shoots 45.7 percent from the 3-point line which is second in the MEC. Johnson is also eighth in assists at 3.3 per game. Johnson is second in the MEC in minutes played at 32.5 minutes per contest.
Richmond talked about the challenges of guarding Johnson:
"Johnson's size and skill level present problems. He is a shot maker and a good passer if you runs double teams at him. He can do a little of everything and he's six foot seven and 250 + pounds. We need to make everything difficult for him. We need to contest every shot."
Sean Ealy puts up 13.7 points per game and Caleb Murray tallies 10.1 per night. Coleman blocks 1.5 shots per game which is third in the MEC.
In the first meeting with NDC back in November Johnson scored 29 and Ealy tallied 10. The Cardinals shot 31.9 percent in that game, 18.5 percent (5-27) from the 3-point line and 70.8 percent (17-24) from the free throw line.
Richmond gave the final thoughts:
"The message to our guys has been we need to be connected at both ends. We need to take good shots and move the ball so we can get back on defense. Offense affects defense. We need to stay balanced and take what the defense gives us. Teams scout and play to your weaknesses as opposed to your strengths. We need to avoid the one pass possessions particularly on the road."
Other MEC Games Wednesday:
Davis & Elkins @ Fairmont State
West Virginia Wesleyan @ Frostburg State
Salem @ West Liberty
Concord @ Charleston
Glenville State @ West Liberty
MEC Standings:
Charleston 8-1 (13-2)
West Liberty 8-1 (13-3)
Concord 6-3 (10-3)
West Virginia State 6-3 (10-5)
Fairmont State 5-4 (12-4)
Davis & Elkins 5-4 (9-7)
Glenville State 5-4 (9-7)
NDC 3-7 (7-8)
Wheeling 2-7 (5-10)
Frostburg State 2-7 (2-14)
West Virginia Wesleyan 0-9 (1-15)
Comments