The Notre Dame College Falcons head south to Buckhannon, West Virginia where they will face West Virginia Wesleyan College in a Saturday MEC tilt inside the Rockefeller Center. NDC is 8-8 all time against the Bobcats. You can catch all action on the MEC digital network at MEC.TV as tip time is slated for 4 PM.
NDC Head Coach Mark Richmond talked about the matchup:
" Another important road game for us at West Virginia Wesleyan. Hopefully our guys are recharged and ready for another road challenge, "Richmond explained.
NDC 6-2 (4-1 MEC) is coming off a 2-1 home stand in a six day span in which they defeated Concord by two (Saturday,) lost to Lourdes University (Mon,) and knocked off Davis and Elkins (Wednesday). The Falcons were led by Mike Sampson in the 85-81 win on Wednesday. He tied a program record by going nine for nine from the field (most shots without a miss) on his way to 22 points and 10 rebounds. Jaedon Willis scored 12 points, while Tyland Crawford and John Godinez each tallied 10. NDC shot 49 percent from the field, 32 percent (6-19) from the 3-point line, and 65 percent (15-23) from the free throw line. They won the rebounding battle 36-34. The Falcons come into Saturday's contest in the middle of the pack in the MEC averaging 81.9 points offensively as well as 81.4 points on the defensive end. They have shot the ball well as evidenced by the 48 percent field goal percentage (3rd MEC,) 42 percent 3-point percentage (tops in the MEC,) and 72 percent free throw percentage (4th MEC.) The Falcons have struggled on the boards where they are being out rebounded by 3.4 rebounds (33.6-37.0) rebounds per night. They dish out 13.3 assists per game, get 8.3 steals per night, and block 1.4 shots per night.
Individually Willis leads the Falcons and his third in the MEC putting up 22.3 points per night. The junior from Baltimore also is 10th in the MEC and leads the Falcons dishing out 3.3 assists per night, he is third in 3-point percentage (40 percent,) leads the MEC in 3-pointer's per game (3.4,) and is sixth in the conference in free throw percentage (78 percent.) Crawford puts up 12.9 points per game, while Sampson nets 11.9 points per night to go along with a team leading 8.5 rebounds which is good for fourth in the MEC.
Godinez talked about using Wednesday's win moving forward:
" We can definitely use it as a momentum setter. It builds up our confidence every time we win. It was a sloppy win but we will figure it out in practice and be better on Saturday, Godinez explained.
The Bobcats (1-8 0-5 MEC) have lost six straight with their lone win coming on 11/15 against Seton Hill. Last time out they lost 66-64 to Alderson Broaddus on Wednesday. Jayden Hibbitt paced WVWC as he has all season with 26, while Braeden McGrew added 18. The Bobcats shot 46 percent from the field, 12 percent (2-17) from the 3-point line, and did not attempt a free throw.
Richmond talked about the Bobcats:
" Wesleyan played very well on the road Wednesday at AB. They are extremely well coached and Hibbit is playing as well as anyone in our league right now."
The Bobcats are averaging 63.2 points per game on offense, while defensively they give up 83.8 points per night. They shoot 41 percent from the field, and 30 percent from the 3-point line as a team. They shoot at a 70 percent clip from the free throw line, and are being out rebounded by 9.2 rebounds per night (29.2-38.4.) Hibbitt is fifth in the MEC netting 20.7 points per game, and is joined in double figures by McGrew who averages 11.9 points per night. McGrew leads the Bobcats dishing out four assists per game which is good for seventh in the MEC.
Other MEC Games Saturday:
Fairmont State @ Glenville State
Alderson Broaddus @ Davis & Elkins
Frostburg State @ Concord (Sunday)
MEC Standings:
West Liberty 4-1 (8-1)
Fairmont State 4-1 (7-1)
Charleston 4-1 (7-2)
NDC 4-1 (6-2)
Alderson Broaddus 2-2 (5-3)
West Virginia State 2-2 (5-4)
Glenville State 1-1 (3-4)
Concord 2-3 (4-6)
Wheeling 2-3 (3-6)
Frostburg State 1-3 (3-7)
Davis & Elkins 1-4 (2-6)
West Virginia Wesleyan 0-5 (1-8)
Comments