The Notre Dame College Falcons and Mercy College Mavericks were in a tight battle on Saturday but Mercy came out on top 80-75. With the win Mercy improved to 3-9 on the season- while the Falcons fell to 2-9 with the loss.
NDC was led by Drew Scarberry who knocked down six 3-pointer's on his way to 25 points- Levi Frankland added 22 points- and- 11 rebounds while Jordan Burton netted 13 points. The Falcons shot 51 percent as a team- 39 percent (9-21) from the 3-point line- and- 53 percent (8-15) at the free throw line in the defeat. NDC had 13 assists- and- 18 turnovers in the game.
The Mavericks were paced by Nakeem Hamilton who scored 24 points in the win. He was one of four players in double figures. Dondre Barnes scored 19- Davyon Cuffey had 12- and- Lamont Williams added 11. Mercy shot 46 percent as a team- 39 percent (10-26) from the 3-point line- and- 77 percent (10-13) from the free throw line. The Mavericks had 12 assists- and- nine turnovers as a team in the game.
Mercy was the team that came out of the gates quickly in this one as they jumped out to a 16-4 lead after a Cuffey layup at the 14:36 mark of the half. It would be 21-13 Mercy halfway thru the opening half. A Burton layup cut it to six before a 3-pointer by Barnes with nine minutes left in the half. NDC was down by 10 (32-22) with 3:51 in the half but would rally with a 13-0 run to take a 35-32 lead into the locker room.
NDC was led by Frankland with 10 points in the opening half- while Burton added seven. The Falcons shot 50 percent from the floor in the opening stanza- 36 percent (4-11) from the 3-point line- and- 60 percent (3-5) at the free throw line. NDC out-rebounded their hosts 21-17 in the half. NDC had seven assists- and- 10 turnovers in the opening stanza.
Mercy was paced by Hamilton with 12 points- while Cuffey had eight in the half. They shot 39 percent as a team in the first 20 minutes- 29 percent (4-14) from the 3-point line- and- did not attempt a free throw. The Mavericks had five assists and six turnovers in the opening stanza.
NDC stretched the lead to six (38-32) after a Scarberry 3-pointer at the 19:51 mark of the contest. A Scarberry layup at the 17:12 mark would again stretch the lead back to six again (42-36.) Mercy would retake the lead as they went on a 7-0 run after a Williams 3-pointer. Scarberry would answer with a three of his own to put NDC back on top. DeAnthony Owens made a bucket to make it 47-43 before Mercy battled back again. A 9-0 run by the Mavericks made it 52-47 with 11:12 to go. NDC was within five at the 6:40 mark after another Scarberry 3-pointer. Mercy would stretch the lead to 11 at the 4:29 mark. NDC would fight to the finish but would get no closer than five the rest of the way.
Bruce Hodges talked about finishing afterwards:
" We gotta finish the job. New year- new us after the break. Hodges stated."
Scarberry agreed:
" Gotta be able to put together a full 40 minutes. We will take this break- rest up- and- come back ready to roll for the next half of the season."
Coach Mark Richmond talked about the difference in the game:
" We didn't value the basketball today. We had several uncharacteristic turnovers. We aren't talented enough to have people not play their best and we had a couple guys that struggled today. We're continuing to get better at things but our margin for error is very thin."
NDC will take a long break and be back in action on Sunday 1/5 when they host Salem. Tip time for that game is scheduled for 2 PM.
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