With just a little over a month to go until the MEC Tournament NDC head coach Mark Richmond is preparing his team. "I thought it was important to get a non conference game in there with a month to go in the season, "Richmond said. "Using this week as a lead up to the tournament we are going to be playing three games in the next six days. We will need to be able to prepare and respond, get ourselves ready to deal with a short turnaround. That was our process going in. We don't know much about this PSU-Fayette team we are playing but we have seen a little tape on them. Obviously today is more about us than them. We have to continue to improve what we're doing and keep building towards that final go in March."
""Good opportunity for us to further our win streak. Have to continue to defend, rebound and stay sharp, NDC Guard Gbolahan Adio mentioned."
"We just have to continue with the effort and energy we have been playing with, "NDC Guard Jaedon Willis added.
NDC (12-7 9-5 MEC) is coming off a 2-0 week as they defeated Concord 84-75 on Wednesday and Glenville State 97-93 on Saturday. Willis, the MEC Player of The Week is coming off a 31 point performance on Saturday that included 20 in the second half for the second straight game. DeAirius Barker added 19 and Daylin Lee tallied 14. NDC shot 54.7 percent from the field and 45 percent (9-20) from the 3-point line. They also shot at a 94.7 percent clip (18-19) from the free throw line as a team.
The Falcons score an MEC fifth best 82.9 points per game while defensively they allow an MEC second best 76.7 points per game. From the field they shoot 44 percent from the field which is 10th in the MEC and are the top team in the conference holding the opposition to 41.7 percent from the floor.
The Falcons shoot 37.4 from the 3-point line which is third in the MEC and they are the top defensive team guarding the 3-point line as the opposition shoots just 28.9 percent from three. NDC also leads the MEC in free throw percentage shooting at a 76.8 percent clip. On the glass NDC is being out rebounded by 0.6 (39.1-39.7) boards per night.
Willis is pouring in 22.6 points per game which is 2nd in the MEC and 10th in all of Division II. He is also top 20 in the country in free throw attempts and total points. The senior is shooting 42.9 percent from the field and is shooting an MEC fourth best 42 percent from the 3-point line. Barker joins him in double figures at 12.1 points per game and leads the team, as well as are 10th in the country dishing out 3.5 assists per night. Obinna Ugwuakazi leads the team on the glass grabbing 5.2 rebounds per contest.
Richmond talked about his squad:
"We have been a little short- handed a little over the last couple weeks. It has helped us in the long run getting more guys out there. It has forced me to play some other guys more minutes than normal. It has been good for us, guys have done a good job stepping up. They have risen to the occasion to be the next man up."
PSU- Fayette (10-11) lost 77-72 to Penn St.Greater Allegheny last time out. Torrian Jenkins scored 22 points, Jammier Richardson tallied 17, and Carlton Cannady tallied 12. As a team the Nittany Lions score 78.1 points per game, shoot 42.8 percent from the field, and 25.7 percent from the 3-point line. They average 33.6 rebounds per night as well. Daisales Jones paces the season box score at 24.4 points per game, Jenkins adds 15.4 per contest, Boyd gets 13.7 per night, while both Dominic Boring (10.8 points per game) and Cannaday (10.4 points per game) round out the double figure scorers.
Richmond gave the final thought:
""Our strength is in numbers. When we have a balled effort and multiple guys contribute, and we win as a team that's when we play our best basketball."
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