The Notre Dame College Falcons for the first time in the 2019-20 season will face a team for the second time when they face Wheeling University at Murphy Gym on Wednesday night. The Falcons come into the game with a record of 4-12 and 2-8 in the MEC. Wheeling comes in with a 9-5 mark- with a 6-4 record in the MEC.
In the first match up back on 11/23 it was Wheeling who rolled to a 89-58 win. NDC Coach Mark Richmond talked about how much things have changed since that first game and set up the match up:
" We are looking forward to the rematch. It is a game that we have circled on our schedule since that first meeting. We were without a couple guys in that first meeting- and- for whatever reason we did not match there physicality." Richmond said.
Bruce Hodges talked about what has to happen Wednesday:
" We gotta come out and match the intensity of Wheeling. It's a game we feel we are ready for. We gotta play a full 40 minutes."Hodges mentioned.
NDC is coming off a 95-70 loss at Charleston on Saturday. DeAnthony Owens led the way with 26 points- while Levi Frankland netted 20- and- Drew Scarberry chipped in 10. NDC shot 52 percent from the field in the contest- 53 percent (8-15) from the 3-point line- and- 67 percent (8-12) at the free throw line. They were out rebounded 33-19 (the first time they have been out rebounded since 12/7.) They had nine assists- and- 10 turnovers as a team in the defeat.
In the first meeting Jordan Burton(11 points) was one of the top scorers.
Richmond spoke about the future of Burton:
" We are excited about Jordan's future. He has been playing more under control as he has played more- we have asked him to score the ball- and- he has been doing that very well of late."
NDC is paced in scoring by Frankland who is averaging a MEC eighth best 17.7 points per game- while he is also eighth in field goal percentage shooting at a 44 percent clip. Owens is putting up 16.6 points per night- and- grabbing 6.4 rebounds per contest. Scarberry is netting 14.6 points per game- and- grabbing 5.8 rebounds per night. The senior is shooting 33 percent from the 3-point line. Richmond talked about what Scarberry brings:
" We are excited to have Drew in the rematch. Like you said he did not play in the first meeting. He is a guy who spreads the floor for us."
Larenz Thurman- and- Burton are averaging 12.1- and- 10.4 points per game respectively. The former is averaging a MEC seventh best 3.6 assists per game- while the latter is averaging a MEC 15th best 3.1 assists per night. NDC is averaging a MEC sixth best 79.0 points per game- while defensively they are allowing a MEC seventh best 82.6 points per game on the defensive end. NDC has a slight rebounding advantage over the opposition (36.2-35.3.) They will need to cut down on the turnovers though as they are turning the ball over 12.9 times per night.
Wheeling (9-5 6-4 MEC) was led by Jordan Reid with 16 in the first meeting- Emmanuel Ansong added 15- Jarrett Haines had 14- and- both Nathan Meriwether- and- Jeremiah April tallied 12. They shot 52 percent in that contest- 44 percent (10-23) from the 3-point line- and- 87 percent (13-15) from the free throw line.
The Cardinals are coming off a 93-81 loss to Fairmont State on Saturday. Haines led four players in double figures with 23- Reid posted 20- Jay Gentry added 12- and- Geron Braithwaite also tallied 12. The Cardinals shot 39 percent in the defeat- 29 percent (6-21) from the 3-point line- and- 78 percent (21-27) at the free throw line. Wheeling averages a MEC seventh best 78.3 points per game- while they allow a MEC second best 72.1 points per contest. On the glass they have a 2.9 rebounding advantage per game (35.7-32.8.)
Reid is scoring 17.1 points per game to go along with 5.9 rebounds per contest.
Richmond talked about the unique skill sets that Reid presents:
"Reid is a very unique- and- athletic big. He is one of the best big men in the league. He is only about six-foot-one or six-foot-two.'
Ansong is putting up 16.1 points per night- while he grabs 7.3 rebounds- and- shoots 39 percent from the 3-point line. Haines is scoring 15.7 points per game- and- dishes out three assists per night. Gentry scores 11.9 per contest.
Richmond gave some thoughts on the defensive end and what needs to be done to slow down the Cardinals:
"The biggest thing is they like to shoot from close to the rim. They only make six 3-pointer's per game so the biggest key is we need to keep them out of the paint. I was just looking- and- we have attempted 150 more 3-pointer's than they have."
Other MEC Games Wednesday:
Concord @ Charleston
Fairmont State @ Davis & Elkins
Frostburg State @ West Virginia Wesleyan
Glenville State @ West Virginia State
Urbana @ West Liberty
MEC Standings:
Charleston 8-2 (14-2)
West Liberty 8-2 (13-3)
West Virginia State 7-3 (12-3)
Fairmont State 6-4 (11-4)
Wheeling 6-4 (9-5)
Glenville State 6-4 (9-7)
West Virginia Wesleyan 5-5 (6-10)
Frostburg State 3-7 (6-10)
Concord 3-7 (5-10)
Davis & Elkins 3-7 (5-11)
Urbana 3-7 (4-12)
NDC 2-8 (4-12)
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