The Notre Dame College Falcons will be back in action Saturday when they host the Urbana Blue Knights at Murphy Gym. The game will be the second consecutive at home for NDC as they continue a three game home stand. The Falcons come into the contest with a record of 5-12 and 3-8 in the MEC. The Blue Knights come into the contest with a record of 4-13 and 3-8 in the MEC. The game is scheduled to tip at 4 PM.
Bruce Hodges and Drew Scarberry gave the same sentiments they have all season:
"We have to build off the momentum we built earlier this week. We need to play 40 minutes and stick together for the whole game."Both Hodges and Scarberry stated.
DeAnthony Owens agreed as well:
" We have three home games in a row at home and have a very good shot to move up in the standings. I feel like this team is starting to click- and- is real close to going on a long winning streak."Owens mentioned.
Coach Mark Richmond talked about being at home on Saturday:
"We are excited to be at home again. We have been playing much better at home of late. We look forward to the opportunity and are excited to be in front of the home crowd. "Richmond explained.
After Wednesday nights 72-62 win over Wheeling the Falcons improved to 4-3 at home on the season. Hodges got things started for the Falcons scoring 15 of his 16 points in the victory- while Scarberry helped them close the deal with 19 of his 21 points in the second half. Levi Frankland continued to be the scoring presence that he has been all year putting up 18 in the win- while Owens did not have a good shooting night but led the team with 11 rebounds despite scoring just two points. Jordan Burton also was solid in the win dishing out five assists as he played all 40 minutes. The Falcons had 14 assists- and- five turnovers in this one.
Looking inside the numbers NDC is sixth in the MEC in scoring offense scoring 78.6 points per game- as well as scoring defense where they give up 81.4 per night. After being out rebounded for the first time since 12/7 against Charleston on Saturday the Falcons got back to winning the glass Wednesday as they had a 37-36 edge over Wheeling. On the season NDC has out rebounded the opposition 36.2-35.3. The Falcons have also done a good job of sharing the ball as they are averaging 14.4 assists per game- as opposed to 12.8 assists per night for the opponent. As a team the Falcons have averaged 11.9 turnovers per game- while they force 14.3 turnovers per contest.
Frankland continues to lead the season box score putting up 17.7 points per game. The senior is shooting 44 percent from the 3-point line (not enough attempts to qualify for MEC lead-) but is shooting 54 percent from the field (eighth MEC.) The senior from Gold coast Queensland, Australia is leading the MEC playing 36.4 minutes per night- which is also top 25 in the country in minutes played. Owens is next on the team in scoring at 15.3 points per game- while he leads the team in rebounding grabbing 6.8 boards per night. Scarberry is scoring 15.1 points per game and has now scored in double figures in nine consecutive games. The redshirt senior is also grabbing 5.8 rebounds a night which is top 15 in the MEC. He is also fourth in the MEC in minutes played. Shooting at a 34 percent clip from the 3-point line Scarberry is third in the MEC. Larenz Thurman continues to be sidelined and averages 12.1 points per game- while he is eighth in the MEC in assists at 3.6 per night. Burton rounds out the Falcons averaging in double figures at 10.1 per game- the freshman from Toledo is 11th in the MEC dishing out 3.2 assists per contest.
Richmond talked about rebounding:
"You are what you preach for the most part and we have been preaching rebounding to these guys all year round. We got back to that- and- hope to continue it tomorrow."
Urbana has really struggled to score the ball and has only won one time away from the Grimes Center this season as they hold a 1-7 road record. That lone road win was against Kentucky Wesleyan back in November. The last time out the Blue Knights were thumped 99-70 by West Liberty on Wednesday. Mario Lacy led Urbana with 17 points- while Tehree Horn added 13. The Blue Knights shot 43 percent from the field in the defeat- 22 percent (6-27) from the 3-point line- and- 25 percent (2-8) from the free throw line. The Blue Knights are at the bottom of the conference in scoring averaging 67.8 points per game- while they allow 75.1 points per night. They have struggled taking care of the ball as well turning it over 13 times per game
. Jordan Bradley leads the team in scoring at 11.9 points per game- while Horn is the only other Blue Knight in double figures netting 11.1 points per contest. Lacy is putting up 9.8 points- to go along with 5.6 rebounds per night. Kyle Kesley is leading the team on the glass grabbing 6.4 rebounds per night.
Richmond talked about defense:
"We were really good on defense the other night. To hold any team in this league to 62 points is hard to do. The 1-3-1 has been really good to us- and- we will continue to switch up our defenses."
MEC Games:
West Virginia Wesleyan @ Davis & Elkins (Sat)
Other Games Sunday:
Concord @ Glenville State
Fairmont State @ Frostburg State
Charleston @ West Virginia State
West Liberty @ Wheeling
MEC Standings:
Charleston 9-2 (15-2)
West Liberty 9-2 (14-3)
Fairmont State 7-4 (12-4)
West Virginia State 7-4 (12-4)
Glenville State 7-4 (10-7)
Wheeling 6-5 (9-6)
West Virginia Wesleyan 5-6 (6-11)
Frostburg State 4-7 (7-10)
Concord 3-8 (5-11)
NDC 3-8 (5-12)
Davis & Elkins 3-8 (5-12)
Urbana 3-8 (4-13)
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