The Notre Dame College Falcons traveled to Frostburg, Maryland to take on the Frostburg State Bobcats in an MEC tilt at Bobcat Arena on Wednesday night. Powered by a 24-31 night (77.4 percent) from the free throw line the Falcons slipped past the Bobcats 83-77.
"When games get close down the stretch free throws are important as anything else, "Daylin Lee explained. "When we're in practice we work on free throws when we are tired so when it's game time they become second nature. You have to work on free throws everyday because they can be the deciding factor in tight games."
"Always good to win on the road, "NDC Head Coach Mark Richmond explained. Thought we played really well in the first half. Didn't play as well on either end in the second half but we made enough plays to secure the win. I thought our experience showed up late in the game. Proud of the way we competed but we still have plenty of things to work on."
Lee got the scoring going for the Falcons (8-4 5-2 MEC) as he hit a pair of free throws early on. Lee and Jaedon Willis knocked down 3-pointers and NDC had the lead 8-2 just 92 seconds into this one. The Bobcats would tie the game before a 3-pointer by Gbolahan Adio would give the Falcons a 3-point lead. NDC would get a spark off the bench from Tyland Crawford. The grad student would from Virginia would knock down a 3-pointer at the 11:17 mark to make it 24-17 NDC. Lee would then make a pair of free throws. After a four point run by FSU (5-8 1-6 MEC) Crawford would hit his second 3-pointer of the half to make it 29-21 Falcons with 9:54 in the opening stanza. A Jamarr Talbert triple and a steal with a breakaway hoop in transition from Andre Harris made it an 11 point NDC lead (34-23) with 7:18 in the opening stanza. NDC would lead by nine (44-35) before they would close the first half with a flourish. Willis would hit a pair of free throws then NDC would force a Bobcats turnover. After a timeout by NDC Willis would hit a 3-pointer right before halftime to give them a 14 point lead (49-35) at the break.
Willis was led by Willis with 18 points in the opening stanza, Lee netted seven, while both Crawford and Harris tallied six. The Falcons shot 46.7 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes, 47.1 percent (8-17) from the 3-point line and 81.3 percent (13-16) from the free throw line. The Falcons had six assists and three turnovers in the opening half.
Frostburg was led by Tairell Fletcher who had 12 points in the opening half while both Agiye Edwards and Juston Bailey chipped in six. The Bobcats shot 55.3 percent from the field, 27.3 percent (3-11) from the 3-point line, and 72.7 percent (8-11) from the free throw line in the first half. They led the rebounding battle 22-13. They had seven assists and seven turnovers in the opening 20 minutes.
NDC led by 13 (57-44) after Crawford's third triple of the night at the 16:44 mark. After a steal by Harris at the other end he would hammer home the dunk to give the Falcons their largest lead of the game (59-44) with 15:52 to go. The Falcons would go cold for the next two plus minutes as the Bobcats would use an 8-0 run to get to within seven (59-52) after a Fletcher layup at the 13:34 mark.Obinna Ugwuakazi made a layup for NDC but Vincent Smalls would score on the other end for Frostburg. After a pair of Lee free throws and a jumper by Harris NDC was back up double digits (65-54) with 9:38 to go. DeAirius Barker made a layup at the 7:16 mark and the NDC lead was 10 (69-59.) The next four points went to FSU and it was a six point game (69-63) with 5:03 to go. A dunk by Adio would be counted by a Smalls hoop. Willis would knock down his five 3-pointer of the night at the 4:05 mark and the Falcons looked to be in control leading 74-65. A three-point play by Jaylin Alburry trimmed the lead to six (74-68.) Talbert hit a jumper to extend the lead to eight. The next five points went to the Bobcats as a traditional three-point play at 2:18 mark cut the Falcons lead to three (76-73.) After a technical foul on the Bobcats Willis hit a pair of free throws to make it 78-73 with under a minute to go. NDC would ice this one at the foul line and walk away with a big road conference win. NDC won back to back conference road games for the first team in over a year.
""I am starting to feel good out there again, "Crawford mentioned of his play of late. "Missing games earlier in the season messed up my rhythm but I'm finding it now. We made shots in the first half which gave us a boost to end the half. We made some gritty plays to end the game. Glad we came out with the W."
Willis paced the Falcons as he knocked down five 3-pointers on his way to a game high 26 points. Lee added 14 which included going nine of 10 at the free throw line to go with seven rebounds. Harris netted 10 and hauled in eight boards on the night. NDC shot 36.4 percent from the field in the contest, 35.5 percent (11-31) from the 3-point line, and 77.4 percent (24-31) at the free throw line. They had eight assists and eight turnovers in this one.
Fletcher led the Bobcats with 23 points and was joined by Murphy who scored 18 points and hauled in a game high 17 rebounds. Bailey added 11. FSU shot 40.3 percent from the field. 23.5 percent (4-17) from the 3-point line, and 76 percent (19-25) at the free throw line. The Bobcats dominated the glass winning that battle 49-32. They had nine assists and 17 turnovers in the contest.
NDC will be back in action Saturday when they return home to face Fairmont State. Tip time is slated for 4 PM at Murphy Gym.
Other MEC Scores Wednesday:
West Virginia St. 85 Davis & Elkins 69
Charleston 82 West Virginia Wesleyan 57
Fairmont State 92 Alderson Broaddus 80
Glenville State 100 Wheeling 76
West Liberty 113 Concord 97
MEC Standings:
West Liberty 7-0 (12-1)
West Virginia State 6-1 (12-1)
NDC 5-2 (8-4)
Charleston 5-2 (7-5)
Fairmont State 4-3 (9-4)
Concord 4-3 (7-4)
Glenville State 4-3 (7-5)
Davis & Elkins 3-4 (9-4)
Alderson Broaddus 2-5 (3-8)
Frostburg State 1-6 (5-8)
West Virginia Wesleyan 1-6 (1-10)
Wheeling 0-7 (2-11)
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