The Notre Dame College Falcons (13-7 9-5 MEC) winners of five straight are back on the road Wednesday when they take on West Virginia Wesleyan College (2-16 2-12 MEC) at Bobcat Arena. Tip off is set for 7:30 PM and you can catch all the action on the Mountain East Digital Network at MountainEast.TV
"Quick turnaround at West Virginia Wesleyan on Wednesday night, "NDC head coach Mark Richmond said. "We'll have to be well prepared mentally and physically to win on the road."
"As usual we will need to get off to a good start and set the tempo, "NDC Guard Jaedon Willis mentioned.
"Good opportunity for us to further our win streak, "NDC guard Gbolahan Adio explained. "We have to continue to defend, rebound, and stay sharp."
NDC is coming off a 116-60 drubbing of Penn State Fayette on Monday night. The Falcons scored the third most points in program history with 116, set a new program record for assists in a game with 35 and knocked down a season high 16 3-point baskets. Jamarr Talbert tied for the second most 3-pointer's made in a single game with eight on his way to a career high 24 points. Kaleb Torrence also set a new career high in points (22 and assists (six.) The Virginia native also pulled down six rebounds. Grad student Tyland Crawford added 14 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. Jaedon Willis scored 11 points and dished out seven assists. Adio scored 11 and had a career high seven assists, while Obinna Ugwuakazi added 11 points. Isaiah Sanders grabbed a team leading nine rebounds. As a team NDC scores 84.6 points per game which is fifth in the MEC while defensively they allow 75.9 points per night which is second in the conference. The Falcons shoot an MEC ninth best 44.9 percent from the field, shoot 37.9 percent from the 3-point line which is third in the conference, while they shoot free throws at 76.9 percent to lead the MEC. The Falcons lock down the opposition on defense as in addition to being the second best scoring defense in the conference they hold the opposition to 41.5 percent and also hold the opposition to 28.3 percent shooting from the 3-point line. On the glass the Falcons are +0.6 (39.6-39.0) boards per contest.
Willis continues to pace the season box score as he has all season long. He averages 22 points per game which is second in the MEC and top 20 in the country. The senior shoots 42.9 percent from the field. The Baltimore native is shooting an MEC third best 42 percent from the 3-point line, makes an MEC fourth most 2.9 triples per game and is 10th in the MEC in minutes played (31.8.) Willis is also in the top 20 in the country in free throws made and free throws attempted. DeAirius Barker is putting up 12.1 points per game and dishes out an MEC 10th best 3.5 assists per contest. Ugwuakazi is the rebounding leader for NDC as he corals 5.1 rebounds per night.
The Bobcats are coming off a 108-53 loss to West Liberty last time out. Jalen Anderson and Darius Green led the way with 13 points while Anthony Craven netted 11. As a team the Bobcats shot 37 percent from the field, 21.4 percent (3-14) from the 3-point line and 90.9 percent (10-11) from the free throw line in the lopsided loss.
The Bobcats have struggled on the offensive end as they score a league low 61.3 points per game, shoot a league worst 38.4 percent from the field and shoot a league worst 27.2 percent from the 3-point line. They are 11th in the MEC shooting 68.6 percent from the free throw line. At the defensive end they also struggle. They are giving up a league worst 87.3 points per game, allowing the opposition to shoot 51.3 percent from the field and are the worst rebounding team in the conference being out rebounded by 8.4 (31.6-40.1 rebounds per contest.) Green leads the Bobcats season box score scoring an MEC ninth best 17.2 points per game. He also leads them in rebounds per game (6.6) and assists per contest (just under two.) He is joined in double figures by Tyler Slone (11.4 points per game) and Craven (10.7 points per game.)
In the first meeting between the two teams on December 10th NDC was a 91-47 winner. Willis led NDC with 19, Adio added 13, and Barker added 10. The Falcons shot 50 percent from the field, 31.3 percent (10-32) from the 3-point line and 71.4 percent (15-21) from the free throw line.
The Bobcats were led by Green with 14 and Craven tallied 12. They shot 32.4 percent from the field, 2-18 from the 3-point line, and 1-5 at the free throw line.
Richmond gave the final thoughts on this one:
"They have a nice couple wins at home against Wheeling and Frostburg. They are much improved from when we played them a few months ago."
Other MEC Games Wednesday:
Wheeling @ Charleston
West Liberty @ West Virginia State
Fairmont State @ Glenville State
Frostburg State @ Concord
Alderson Broaddus @ Davis & Elkins
MEC Standings:
West Liberty 12-2 (17-3)
Fairmont State 11-3 (16-4)
Charleston 11-3 (14-6)
West Virginia State 9-5 (15-5)
NDC 9-5 (13-7)
Glenville State 8-6 (12-8)
Concord 7-7 (10-9)
Davis & Elkins 5-9 (11-9)
Alderson Broaddus 5-9 (7-12)
Wheeling 3-11 (5-15)
Frostburg State 2-12 (6-14)
West Virginia Wesleyan 2-12 (2-16)
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