In the course of a long basketball season you have to hit the reset button and find a spark on occasion. After a tough week last week NDC head coach Mark Richmond had to do just that and his team responded in a big way in a 108-78 win over Frostburg State University at Bobcat Arena. With the win NDC improves to 7-7 and 3-6 in the MEC. Frostburg falls to 2-13 and 2-7 in the MEC following the loss.
"We played really hard and competed tonight. Substituted and played some different lineups which helped keep everyone fresh. Defensively we did a great job of making them take tough contested shots. Was really proud of our togetherness and that led to our best 40 minutes of the year to this point," NDC head coach Mark Richmond exclaimed post game."
The Falcons broke out a new starting five to start this one as they as they came out with the five some of junior Gbolahan Adio, junior Josh Dames, freshman Cameron Johnson, junior Trent Blackshire and redshirt junior Andre Harris. NDC had seven players score in double figures in the game in which they scored a season high 108 points, shot a season best 61.2 percent from the field which is the fifth best percentage in program history and shot 42.9 percent (12-28) from the 3-point line. NDC also was +17 (40-23) on the boards in this one.
NDC got off to a sizzling start as Dames knocked down a three, Johnson made a layup, and Blackshire slammed one home to make it 7-0 Falcons. After a Logan Lewis jumper provided the first points for the Bobcats Adio hit a 3-pointer, then redshirt sophomore Devin Haid knocked down a triple and scored a layup. After a Justin Roseme three for the home team NDC went up 13 (18-5) as Trent Williams hit one of his career high six triples on the night. NDC went cold for the next three and a half minutes as the Bobcats went on a 9-0 run to pull within four (18-14) after Rosette hit two free throws with 13:27 until halftime. NDC would score the next seven points capped by a Blackshire basket that made the NDC lead 11 (25-14) with 11:27 in the opening stanza. Another 9-0 run by the Bobcats powered by five points from Jay'Shaun Freeman saw Frostburg get to within two (25-23) with 8:40 until halftime. NDC stretched the lead to seven (32-25) on a Dames layup with 6:12 in the half. The Bobcats got to within three (34-31) on a Freeman three at the 4:51 mark of the first half. The Bobcats got to within one (38-37) on a Lewis jumper with 2:27 in the opening half. Williams would hit back to back triples and NDC would close the first half on a 12-2 run to take a 50-39 lead at the half.
Williams knocked down four triples on his way to 14 points in the opening half, Adio added seven, Dames had six, and Haid tallied five in the opening 20 minutes. NDC shot 60 percent from the field, 50 percent (8-16) from the 3-point line, and did not attempt a free throw in the opening stanza. The Falcons had a 19-15 edge on the glass and had 12 assists to go with 10 turnovers in the first half.
Frostburg was led by Roseme and Lewis with eight each in the first half while Robby Williams had seven. As a team the Bobcats shot 39.5 percent from the field, 35.5 percent (5-13) from the 3-point line, and a perfect 4-4 at the free throw line in the opening stanza. The Bobcats tallied four assists and seven turnovers in the opening 20 minutes.
After a Roseme basket briefly cut the NDC lead to single digits NDC went on a quick 6-0 spurt to go back up by 15 (56-41.) After a Haid jumper at the 12:13 mark NDC held a 21 point lead (74-53.) The Falcons would cruise to victory as they scored the most points they have this season eclipsing the 100 points they scored against Washington Adventist as they eclipsed the century mark for the second time this season. Williams was 7-10 from the field and 6-8 from the 3-point line on his way to a career high 20 points.
"My teammates were finding me and I was ready. Been waiting on my moment. We have to keep playing together for 40 minutes and taking it one game at a time," Williams explained.
Adio had 15 points on an efficient 5-6 shooting from the field, tied a career high with seven assists, and also picked up three steals.
"My teammates did a great job of running the floor and moving without the ball and all I had to do was deliver," Adio mentioned.
Dames stuffed the stat sheet with 12 points, six rebounds, and four assists and was joined by Johnson who also notched 12 points. Haid added 11 points and eight rebounds, while Andre Harris and Blackshire each tallied 10 to round out the double digit scorers. NDC shot 61.2 percent from the field, 42.9 percent (12-28) from the 3-point line, and 82.4 percent (14-17) at the free throw line. The Falcons won the rebounding battle 40-23. They had 24 assists and 17 turnovers in the contest.
The Bobcats were paced by Roseme with 15, Lewis added 14, Freeman tallied 12, Williams notched 11, and Day chipped in 10. As a team Frostburg shot 39.4 percent from the floor, 6-22 (27.3 percent) from the 3-point line and 80 percent (16-20) from the free throw line. They had seven assists and 12 turnovers in the contest.
"Great team win tonight. A lot of guys stepped up when needed. Main thing is just continue to share the ball and limit turnovers. Once we can do that as a unit the sky is the limit. We are taking it one game at a time," Dames said.
NDC will be back in action Saturday when they host Fairmont State at Murphy Gym. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 PM.
Other MEC Scores Wednesday:
West Virginia State 85 Davis & Elkins 78
West Liberty 91 Concord 79
Fairmont State 72 Salem 47
Glenville State 77 Wheeling 76
Charleston 116 West Virginia Wesleyan 76
MEC Standings:
Charleston 7-1 (12-2)
West Liberty 7-1 (12-3)
Concord 5-3 (9-3)
West Virginia State 5-3 (9-5)
Davis & Elkins 5-3 (9-6)
Glenville State 5-3 (9-6)
Fairmont State 4-4 (11-4)
NDC 3-6 (7-7)
Wheeling 2-6 (5-9)
Frostburg State 2-7 (2-13)
West Virginia Wesleyan 0-8 (1-14)
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