The Notre Dame CollegeFalcons hung tough with the regular season champions in the Mountain East Conference Wednesday but they fell 86-72 in the final game at Murphy Gym this season.
Coach Mark Richmond talked about his team's effort tonight:
" Thought we played really-really hard tonight. I was pleased that we took care of the ball only having nine turnovers. Obviously if you turn it over against that team they get easy ones at the other end. Thought we were ok defensively. I told the guys before the game we couldn't play a game with those guys where we had to score 110 or 120 points. We definitely gave ourselves a chance. Just could not get over that hump."Richmond explained.
NDC (9-18 7-14 MEC) was paced by DeAnthony Owens with 24 points- Levi Frankland added 14- Drew Scarberry tallied 13 to go with five rebounds- and- five assists- while Jordan Burton had 11 points and four assists.
Richmond talked about his team on offense:
"We made a conscious effort to play inside out and were able to get some easy ones."
The Hilltoppers (23-4 18-3 MEC) were led by Dalton Bolon with 23- he also grabbed eight rebounds- Pat Robinson added 21- Marlon Moore scored 13- and- Will Yoakum added 11.
Richmond talked about giving credit to West Liberty:
"Give credit to them. We missed some layups in the first half- and- I thought that was the difference in that half.
The Falcons got a conventional three-point play by Owens to start the game.
Richmond talked about that setting the tone early:
" Obviously we came out and that first possession really set the tone. We did a good job of posting there smaller guards early as well."
After Owens dunked the ball again at the 14:02 mark NDC trailed 16-14. An Owens 3-pointer at the 10:15 mark of the opening stanza made it 25-22. At halftime the Falcons trailed by a score of 45-36.
Owens had 14 in the opening half- while Frankland scored eight. NDC shot 47 percent from the field- 67 percent (6-9) from the 3-point line- and- made two of four free throws in the opening stanza. The Falcons had nine assists- and- five turnovers in the first half.
Robinson had 15 points in the first 20 minutes- while Bolon netted nine. The Hilltoppers shot 53 percent from the field- 50 percent (6-12) from the 3-point line- and- 71 percent (5-7) from the free throw line. They led on the glass 19-13 in the first 20 minutes. West Liberty had seven assists- and- four turnovers in the opening stanza.
After a pair of Bruce Hodges free throws at the 16:36 mark NDC was down 48-47. Bolon and Frankland would then trade 3-pointer's. After a Frankland triple at the 14:39 mark NDC trailed 57-55. West Liberty then went on a 9-0 run before a Burton 3-pointer cut the deficit to eight. West Liberty would lead by double digits the rest of the way.
For the game West Liberty shot 47 percent- while the Falcons shot 45 percent. NDC shot 44 percent (10-23) from the 3-point line- while the Hilltoppers shot 38 percent (11-29.) NDC shot 63 percent (10-16) from the free throw line- while West Liberty shot 79 percent (15-19.) The Hilltoppers won the rebounding battle 39-31. They had 11 assists-and- seven turnovers. NDC had 18 assists- and- nine turnovers.
Richmond talked about his team post game:
" We played three regionally ranked teams in a row and although the results are not what we wanted we have gotten a lot better. We have fought- scratched- and- clawed. It is a testament to our team that these guys have not quit. It is a shame that Saturday is our last game because we have gotten so much better."
Richmond then looked ahead to Saturday:
" We will try and go get a road win on Saturday. Obviously it is something we have not done well this year. Then we can hopefully carry that into the MEC Tournament."
The Falcons will battle Urbana Saturday at the Grimes Center. Tip time is set for 4 PM.
Other MEC Scores:
Fairmont State 80 West Virginia Wesleyan 69
Concord 89 West Virginia State 75
Davis & Elkins 77 Frostburg State 75
Charleston 71 Glenville State 70
Urbana 74 Wheeling 67
MEC Standings:
West Liberty 18-3 (23-4)
Charleston 16-5 (22-5)
Fairmont State 15-6 (21-6)
West Virginia State 13-8 (18-8)
Wheeling 11-10 (14-11)
Glenville State 10-11 (13-14)
West Virginia Wesleyan 9-12 (10-17)
Concord 8-13 (11-16)
Frostburg State 7-14 (10-17)
NDC 7-14 (9-18)
Davis & Elkins 6-15 (8-19)
Urbana 6-15 (7-20)
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