The Notre Dame College Falcons led for the duration of the contest on Saturday at Bobcat Arena until the game's final seconds, and Frostburg State came away with the 71-70 win. With the loss NDC dropped to 1-4 (1-4 MEC) on the year. The Bobcats improved to 2-3 (2-3 MEC) after the narrow victory.
Coach Mark Richmond talked about this game being a learning experience for his team down the line:
" That's obviously not the result we wanted. We made some crucial mistakes down the stretch. We played winning basketball for about 35 minutes, but played not to lose at the end. Winning on the road is hard. Winning on the road is hard, you have to execute and be disciplined for 40 minutes,"Richmond explained.
NDC was led by 15 points from Javontae Jones- while Mike Sampson tallied 14 points- and- a game high 13 rebounds. Tyland Crawford and Jordan Roland each tallied nine in the defeat.
The Bobcats were paced by Agyei Edwards with 19 points- Sean Patterson netted 16- and- Jihar Williams also scored in double figures with 13.
NDC jumped out to a 11-4 lead to start this one, as they would go up by eight (14-6) after a Jones 3-pointer the next time down the court. The lead would grow to double figures (25-14) after a Sampson layup at the 7:54 mark of the opening half. After a John Godinez 3-pointer NDC had its biggest lead of the game (30-16) with 6:47 in the opening stanza. Frostburg would rattle off the next eight points to get to within six after a Jamil Jones old fashioned three-point play. The Falcons would get the lead back to 10 after another Godinez hoop but a layup by Williams would cut the lead to eight (38-30) at halftime.
NDC was led by 10 points from Jones in the opening stanza. They also had 11 offensive rebounds in the half. Both Crawford, and Burton had five in the half as well.
The Bobcats had a trio of players score six in the first half.
After a bucket early in the second half cut the lead to single digits the Falcons got a Crawford hoop and a 3-pointer by Roland to stretch the lead to 12 (43-31.) NDC would maintain a double digit lead (57-47) halfway through the second stanza. After a Sampson steal and slam the Falcons looked to be in control leading 59-47, but the Bobcats would not go quietly. The lead would shrink to six with under five minutes to go. After a Patterson three-point play it was 62-59 with 3:56 on the clock. The lead was two, and then a Roland basket made it 64-60 with 3:21 on the clock. Sampson split a pair of free throws for NDC, and Patterson hit both for the Bobcats to cut the lead to 65-64 with 1:39 left. The Falcons would score the next four points on a Crawford layup and then a Roland layup at the 1:22 mark that made it 69-64. Patterson cut the lead to three, before NDC split a pair of free throws with 30 seconds left. Williams knocked down a 3-pointer with 12 seconds to cut the lead to one (70-69.) NDC would turn it over, and after a foul the Bobcats took the lead on a pair of free throws by Desmond Renee. After two more missed NDC free throws with five seconds, Frostburg would miss two at the line but the Falcons desperation heave at the buzzer would not fall.
The Falcons shot 45 percent as a team- 29 percent (6-21) from the 3-point line- and- 61 percent (14-23) from the free throw line. The Falcons won the rebounding battle 41-29. They had eight assists- and- 18 turnovers in the contest.
The Bobcats shot 43 percent as a team- 24 percent (4-17) from the 3-point line- and- 70 percent (21-30) from the free throw line. They had 10 assists- and- 13 turnovers in the game.
NDC will be back in action Wednesday when they host West Virginia Wesleyan. Tip time is slated for 7:30 PM.
Other MEC Scores Saturday:
Alderson Broaddus 75 Concord 66
West Virginia State 92 Davis & Elkins 81
Charleston 81 West Virginia Wesleyan 62
West Liberty vs Glenville State Ppd.
Fairmont State vs Alderson Broaddus Ppd.
Wheeling vs Concord- Ppd.
MEC North Standings:
West Liberty 4-1
Fairmont State 3-1
Alderson Broaddus 3-3
Frostburg State 2-3
NDC 1-4
Wheeling 0-4
MEC South Standings:
Glenville State 5-0
West Virginia State 5-1
Charleston 4-2
Concord 3-3
Davis & Elkins 2-4
West Virginia Wesleyan 0-6
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