The Notre Dame College Falcons got 21 points each from Jordan Burton and DeAnthony Owens- Drew Scarberry added 12- and- Bruce Hodges scored 10 in a 88-70 loss in front of a spirited crowd at Murphy Gym Wednesday. With the loss NDC falls to 9-16 and 7-12 in the MEC. After the victory Charleston improves to 20-5 and 14-5 in the MEC.
Coach Mark Richmond talked about the growth of his team since the beginning of the season:
" We talked about early in the season having a growth mentality. We were going to get better and learn. We were going to find ways to stay in games. We have been through a lot both on and off the court- but for the most part I feel like we have done that."Richmond explained.
Charleston was paced by Zanesville native Drew Rackley who scored 20 points- Seth O'Neal added 15 points- 14 assists and 4 steals- Cleveland product Devon Robinson added 14 points and 10 rebounds- while Lamont McManus scored 10.
Frankland would score the first points of the contest but the Golden Eagles would counter with the next seven. It was 17-11 in favor of Charleston at the 13:46 mark of the opening half. UC led 25-17 before the Falcons went on a 14-0 run capped by a Scarberry jumper to take a four point advantage (29-25.) UC would score the next eight before a Burton 3-pointer cut the lead back to one (33-32) with 4:16 in the opening frame. It would be 42-36 Golden Eagles at the intermission.
NDC was led by Burton with 14- and- Owens with 12 in the opening stanza. They shot 54 percent from the field- 60 percent (3-5) from the 3-point line- and- 83 percent (5-6) at the free throw line. The Falcons led on the glass 13-12 in the first 20 minutes- they had six assists as well as six turnovers in the half.
Charleston was led by Rackley with 15- and- Robinson with 10 in the opening stanza. They shot 54 percent from the field- 50 percent (7-14) from the 3-point line- and- 88 percent (7-8) at the free throw line in the half. They had 10 assists- and- six turnovers in the stanza.
The Falcons battled back and knotted the game at 44 after a Hodges basket at the 16:15 mark. O'Neal would answer with a 3-ball to put Charleston back on top. Charleston would go on a 16-2 run to make it 60-46 after a Rackley 3-pointer at the 13:08 mark.
Richmond talked about that run:
"They made that run at the beginning of the second half and it kind of decimated us. We took some quick ones that led to some run outs at the other end. Our guys pressed a little in that second half. "
At the 10 minute mark the Falcons would get to within 10 after a pair of Owens free throws but that is as close as NDC would get the rest of the way.
Richmond gave credit to Charleston:
" When you shoot 60 percent from the field- 57 percent from the 3-point line- and- 80 percent from the free throw line that is a winning recipe. We just did not get enough stops tonight. Give credit to them they played well offensively."
Richmond talked about the game Burton had offensively (He had a career high 21:)
" Jordan got going early. He was more agressive. We talked to him about that. They guarded the ball screen a little differently than some teams have against us. They dared Jordan to make shots- and- he rose to the occasion."
As a team Charleston shot 60 percent from the floor- while NDC shot 47 percent from the field. The Golden Eagles were 13-23 from the 3-point line- while NDC was five of 15 from the 3-point line. The Golden Eagles shot 79 percent at the free throw line (15-19-) while the Falcons also shot 79 percent (11-14) from the foul line. UC won the rebounding battle 29-24. NDC had 13 assists- and- 12 turnovers- while the Golden Eagles had 22 assists- and- nine turnovers.
Richmond talked big picture:
" We are going to be in some tight games down the stretch. Guard play- and- getting stops is what you need to advance in March. Obviously we have a bunch of senior's and I am a firm believer in the team taking on the personality of the coach"
Hodges talked about what's coming down the stretch:
" We got three games left in the regular season. We are a way better team than we were in the early part of the year."Hodges explained.
NDC will be back in action Saturday when they battle West Virginia State at the Walker Convocation Center. Tip time is set for 4 PM.
Other MEC Scores:
Concord 66 Davis& Elkins 61
Fairmont State 79 Wheeling 78
West Virginia Wesleyan 90 Glenville State 70
Urbana 90 West Virginia State 87 (OT)
West Liberty 117 Frostburg State 74
MEC Standings:
West Liberty 16-3 (21-4)
Charleston 14-5 (20-5)
Fairmont State 14-5 (20-5)
West Virginia State 12-7 (17-7)
Wheeling 10-9 (13-10)
Glenville State 10-9 (13-12)
West Virginia Wesleyan 9-10 (10-15)
NDC 7-12 (9-16)
Frostburg State 7-12 (10-15)
Concord 6-13 (9-16)
Urbana 5-14 (6-19)
Davis & Elkins 4-15 (6-19)
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