NDC Hosts #10 Fairmont In Crucial MEC Matchup.

The Notre Dame College Falcons and the 10th ranked Fairmont State Fighting Falcons will battle for the second time in five weeks on Wednesday night, this time inside Murphy Gym. Tip time is slated for 7:30 PM and you can catch all the action on the Mountain East Digital Network at MountainEast.TV. NDC head coach Mark Richmond set up the matchup:

"We need to do a better job of closing out the game than we did the first time, "Richmond said. It was a one possession game at there place. They made crucial plays at crucial moments and for us to win we need to make those plays, compete, and battle. It will come down to taking care of the ball and rebounding."

In that first meeting it was a 85-83 win for Fairmont State. Jaedon Willis paced NDC with 23 points in that contest, Tyland Crawford had 14, and Mike Kirkland netted 13. As a team NDC shot 52 percent in that contest, 39 percent (10-26) from the 3-point line and went 11 0f 14 at the free throw line.

Richmond talked rebounding. "We did an ok job on the boards last time we played Fairmont but we need to be just as good if not better than we were this time around"

He also spoke about his team sticking together:

"We don't need anyone to play perfect by any means but we need everybody to play at a high level to win. We just need them to do what they do."

NDC (13-9 10-6 MEC) has won three straight. Last time out they were a 82-76 winner at Davis and Elkins. Crawford had a season high 26 points including six 3-pointer's in that game and was joined in double figures by Sam Jackson with 14, and Willis who netted 10. The Falcons shot 46 percent from the field and 50 percent (14-28) from the 3-point line in the victory. The 14 made 3-pointer's were a season high. They also shot a perfect eight of eight at the free throw line.

Willis paces the team and is fourth in the MEC putting up 20.7 points per game. He is third in the MEC shooting at a 39 percent clip from the 3-point line, leads the team in assists putting up three per game, is sixth in the conference shooting 84 percent at the free throw line, as well as leading the MEC making 3.3 3-pointer's per game. Crawford is also averaging double figures putting up 12.5 points per game and grabbing 5.9 rebounds per contest. The Virginia native is ninth in the MEC in minutes played at 34.1 minutes per night. Sampson is scoring 10.5 points per game and grabbing 8.2 rebounds per contest which is fifth in the MEC. The Houston native is tied for third in the MEC stealing the ball 2.1 times per night.

Richmond talked about Sampson (and the rest of his teammates:)

"I expect Mike to play well tomorrow. He did not have one of his better games the first time against Fairmont. I expect the other guys to play well also."

As a team NDC is scoring 80.1 points per game which is good for sixth in the conference on the offensive end while defensively they give up an MEC fifth best 78.4 points per night. They shoot 47 percent from the field which is also fifth in the MEC and are shooting an MEC second best 38 percent from the 3-point line. The Falcons are fifth in 3-pointer's made at 8.6 per night. They shoot an MEC fourth best 74 percent from the free throw line, are being out-rebounded by 1.7 (34.4-36.1) rebounds per contest which is seventh in the conference. They are also fourth in the conference in assists per game at 15.5 per night.

Fairmont State (18-3 13-3 MEC) has won 10 of 11 coming into Wednesday's contest. In the first meeting with NDC Cole Von Handorf poured in a game high 27 points, Isaiah Sanders netted 23, while Zyon Dobbs and George Mangas each tallied 10. They shot 45 percent from the field and 32 percent (9-28) from the 3-point line in that one. They also shot at a 75 percent clip (24-32) from the free throw line. As a team Fairmont is ninth in all of Division II and third in the MEC scoring 88.3 points per game. On the defensive end they are second in the conference giving up 77.1 points per contest. The Fighting Falcons are third in the MEC shooting 49 percent from the field and also third in the MEC shooting 37 percent from the 3-point line. They are second in the MEC shooting 76 percent from the free throw line. On the glass the Fighting Falcons are +1.6 (38.2-36.6) which is fourth best in the MEC.

Richmond talked slowing down the break and gang rebounding:

"Seth Younkin is a guy who is a physical force that is big and strong. They also have some guards like Dobbs who get six or seven rebounds a game and get them out on the break. We will need to stop the ball and get back on defense."

Sanders leads Fairmont in several categories. He is the top scorer at 21.3 points per game (which is third in the MEC,) leads the MEC in free throw percentage (89.5 percent,) is 10th in field goal percentage (48 percent,) 10th in 3-pointer's made per game (2.19) and seventh in steals per game (1.8 per night.) Von Handorf puts up 15.9 per game, Dobbs nets 15.2 per night, and Briggs Parris powered by his MEC second best 44 percent shooting clip from the 3-point line also averages double figures. Younkin leads the team in rebounding at 10.7 per game, while Dobbs dishes out a team leading four assists per contest. Last time out Fairmont was a 82-80 winner at Concord on Saturday. Sanders led the way with 18, Dobbs scored 17, Younkin shad 15, Parris notched 13, and Von Handorf got 12. As a team the Fighting Falcons shot 54 percent in that one, 33 percent (7-21) from the 3-point line, and 73 percent (11-15) at the free throw line.

Richmond talked about the importance of having fans:

"Obviously it is important for our guys to have fans. Last season was a unique situation. It is nice to have a hostile environment at home and it helps our guys. We were on the road for a few weeks their where we would play in a hostile environment and then we would come home and would not have many fans. It definitely helps us in critical situations. I am excited to have a full house tomorrow."

Other MEC Games Wednesday:

West Virginia Wesleyan @ Charleston

Frostburg State @ Alderson Broaddus

Davis & Elkins @ West Virginia State

Glenville State @ West Liberty

Concord @ Wheeling

MEC Standings:

West Liberty 14-2 (20-2)

Fairmont State 13-3 (18-3)

Charleston 12-4 (17-5)

West Virginia State 11-4 (16-6)

NDC 10-6 (13-9)

Concord 8-8 (10-11)

Alderson Broaddus 7-9 (10-10)

Wheeling 6-10 (7-15)

Glenville State 5-10 (8-11)

Davis & Elkins 4-12 (6-16)

Frostburg State 4-12 (6-16)

West Virginia Wesleyan 1-15 (2-20)