The Notre Dame College Falcons (8-4 5-2 MEC) are set for a crucial MEC tilt at home with the Fairmont State Fighting Falcons (9-4 4-3 MEC) on Saturday. Tip time is slated for 4 PM. You can catch all the action on the Mountain East Digital Network at MountainEast.TV
"We know it's a big game but like always we have to stat fast and set the tempo of the game, "NDC Guard Jaedon Willis stated. "We have to control the boards and limit our turnovers."
"Very important home game for us against Fairmont State on Saturday, "NDC head coach Mark Richmond mentioned.
NDC is riding a five game win streak. The most recent being an 83-77 win at Frostburg State on Wednesday night at Bobcat Arena. Willis paced the Falcons with 26 points, Daylin Lee added 14 points and seven rebounds, while Andre Harris tallied 10 points and hauled in eight rebounds. As a team NDC shot 36.4 percent from the field, 35.5 percent (11-31) from the 3-point line, and 77.4 percent (24-31) from the free throw line. They had eight assists and eight turnovers in the contest. NDC won the game despite being out rebounded 49-32 and shooting 27.8 percent from the field (10-36) and 21.4 percent (3-14) from the 3-point line in the second stanza.
NDC comes into the contest fifth in the MEC scoring 83.6 points per game while defensively they are second in the conference giving up 73.7 points per night. NDC is seventh in the MEC shooting 45.3 percent from the field, while defensively they are the top team in the conference holding the opposition to 39.7 percent shooting on the year. NDC shoots an MEC fifth best 36.3 percent from the 3-point line while they lead the conference holding the opposition to shooting 28.4 percent from the 3-point line.
"We have been doing really well the last few games with setting the tone defensively. If we go out and do that tomorrow we should be in good shape, "NDC Guard Gbolahan Adio explained.
NDC is third in the conference shooting at a 72.7 percent clip from the free throw line. On the glass NDC is sixth in the conference outrebouding the opposition by 0.8 (40.4-39.7) boards per contest.
Willis paces NDC in scoring and is third in the MEC putting up 20.7 points per game. The senior from Baltimore is also third in the MEC in 3-point percentage shooting 41.9 percent from the 3-point line. He is third in 3-pointer's per game (2.6,) and second in the conference in free throw percentage (87.3 percent.) Harris and DeAirius Barker each average 9.9 points per night. Harris leads the team in rebounding at 6.2 per game while Barker leads the team in assists (3.1 per game.) Lee is fifth in the conference shooting 83.3 percent from the free throw line.
Fairmont State is coming off a 92-80 win at home over Alderson Broaddus on Wednesday. George Mangas led five Fairmont players in double figures with 18 points. Isaiah Sanders added 17, Zyon Dobbs tallied 15, Fonz Hale scored 13, and Briggs Parris chipped in 10. Fairmont shot 55.6 percent from the floor, 43..5 percent (10-23) from the 3-point line, and 80 percent (12-15) at the free throw line.
Fairmont State is second in the MEC and fourth in the country putting up 92.3 points per game. They are giving up an MEC fifth best 79.2 points per game defensively. FSU leads the MEC shooting at a 50.4 percent clip from the field as well as 3-point shooting (40.6 percent) and are the top free throw shooting team in the conference (77.7 percent.) On the glass FSU is second in the conference out rebounding the opposition by 5.5 (40.7-35.2) rebounds per night.
Richmond talked what it will take tomorrow:
"They (Fairmont) are deep and talented. They are very skilled offensively so we'll have to do a great job defensively and find ways to get stops. It will be important for us to handle their full court pressure and take care of the ball."
Sanders leads the Fighting Falcons and is fifth in the MEC putting up 17.9 points per game. The Sickerville, New Jersey native also leads the conference in 3-point shooting (47.3 percent) and 3-pointer's per game (3.4.) He is 12th in field goal percentage in the MEC shooting at a 46.9 percent clip.
Mangas and Hale put up 13.3 points per game. Mangas is fifth in the conference in field goal percentage (54.5 percent on the season.) Dobbs tallies 11 per game and Tariq Woody chips in 10.8 per night. Dobbs leads the team on the glass grabbing 5.8 rebounds per game and is third in the MEC in assists (4.6 per contest.)
"I expect a high level fast paced basketball game between two teams that are very talented and hungry for a win. It will be a fun game to be a part of and always is, "Sanders explained.
Richmond agreed:
"I expect it to come down to the final couple possessions like it normally does against them."
Other MEC Games Saturday:
Charleston @ Davis & Elkins
Glenville State @ West Liberty
West Virginia State @ West Virginia Wesleyan
Concord @ Wheeling
Frostburg State @ Alderson Broaddus
MEC Standings:
West Liberty 7-0 (12-1)
West Virginia State 6-1 (12-1)
NDC 5-2 (8-4)
Charleston 5-2 (7-5)
Fairmont State 4-3 (9-4)
Concord 4-3 (7-4)
Glenville State 4-3 (7-5)
Davis & Elkins 3-4 (9-4)
Alderson Broaddus 2-5 (3-8)
Frostburg State 1-6 (5-8)
West Virginia Wesleyan 1-6 (1-10)
Wheeling 0-7 (2-11)
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