The Notre Dame College Falcons are set to battle #17 West Virginia State in a mid-week in battle in South Euclid on Wednesday at Murphy Gymnasium. Tip time is scheduled for 7:30 PM and you can catch all the action on the Mountain East Conference Digital Network at MountainEast.TV
"Really important home game. We didn't handle business and protect home court last game, "Jaedon Willis explained. "Coach has made a big emphasis on playing our game and making the game the way we are the most comfortable playing, so it's vital for us to do that tomorrow night."
"Obviously we need to get back to just being us, "NDC head coach Mark Richmond mentioned. "We got to do a much better job defensively for 40 minutes to have a chance in this one. The guys have been locked in on our opponent in the last couple days and have to be ready to play."
NDC (8-5 5-3 MEC) split a pair of games last week. They won by six at Frostburg State on Wednesday before losing by nine at home to Fairmont State on Saturday. The latter was the Falcons first home loss of the season. Jaedon Willis led the team in scoring (21 per game last week,) Daylin Lee (16 per game) on the week, Andre Harris (11.5 points per game) and 9.5 rebounds per contest last week. Tyland Crawford put up 10.5 points per game last week.
NDC is scoring 83.2 points per game which is fifth in the MEC, while defensively they are second in the MEC giving up 74.8 points per contest. The Falcons shoot an MEC seventh best 45.1 percent from the field which is seventh in the conference, while they lead the conference holding the opposition to 40.3 percent shooting from the floor. From the 3-point line NDC is shooting 36.6 percent (sixth in the MEC) while they are holding other teams to 29.4 percent which is second in the MEC. The Falcons shoot an MEC fourth best 72.7 percent from the free throw line and are out rebound the opposition. by 0.1 (39.9-39.8) rebounds per game.
Richmond talked defense:
"It all starts with our defense. Our best offense has been from our defense. When you get stops and turnovers you have numbers in transition which is a good way to get some easy buckets. If you are taking the ball out of the basket every time after a make it slows you down."
Willis is leading the team and is tied for second in the conference putting up 20.3 points per game. He is shooting an MEC third best 42.9 percent from the 3-point line and makes 2.5 3-pointer's per game which is good for fourth in the conference. The senior from Baltimore is also second in the MEC in free throw percentage (86.2 percent) and fourth in the conference shooting 44.1 percent from the floor.
Richmond talked about making the right play when so much attention is paid to Willis:
"We need to take what the defense gives us. If they run two guys at Jaedon we need to make the right play and other guys need to make plays. Shot fakes could be a key in this game as this team gambles a lot and will try and bait you into thinking they are not there. But they are so long and athletic they can make up for some mistakes. Going to the rim strong is a major key also. Finishing at the rim and getting to the free throw line."
Daylin Lee is seventh in the MEC shooting 82.5 percent from the foul line. DeAirius Barker leads the team dishing out 3.1 assists per night to go with his 9.5 points per night. Harris leads the team in rebounding grabbing 6.5 rebounds per contest.
The Yellow Jackets (13-1 7-1 MEC) have won five straight. Last time out they won 106-76 over West Virginia Wesleyan. Camir Kinsler paced WVSU with 26, Noah Jordan scored 19, Taveon Horton tallied 14, Anthony Pittman put up 11 and grabbed 13 rebounds, while Bunky Brown chipped in 10. They shot 53.2 percent from the field, 36.7 percent (11-30) from the 3-point line, and 78.7 percent (25-37) at the free throw line.
As a team they score 92.1 points per game which is third in the MEC and fifth in the country. They allow an MEC seventh best 79.4 points per game. They shoot at a 47.1 percent clip which is fourth in the MEC which includes a blistering 39.3 percent from the 3-point line which is second in the conference. They shoot 70 percent at the free throw line which is seventh in the MEC and are sixth in the MEC on the boards with a 0.3 (40.1-39.8) rebound advantage.
Kinsler leads the season box score at 16.8 points per game. He is second in the conference shooting 44.1 percent from the 3-point line and is making 3.2 triples per night which is also second in the MEC. Darrius Green is 10th in the MEC scoring 15.9 per game, Malik Whitaker scores 14.7 per night and hauls in a team leading and MEC second best 9.4 rebounds per contest. Horton scores 11.9 per contest. Dwaine Jones is the floor general as he averages 3.8 assists per contest and is ninth in the MEC in assist to turnover ratio. Green is third in the MEC getting 2.4 steals per night. Noah Jordan scores 12.4 points per game. He and Whitaker each get more than one block per night.
Richmond gave his final thoughts:
"They have several guys who can rebound it. Pittman will get it off the glass and push it himself. They preach stops and rebounds just like we do. They have been shooting the ball well. They have won a few games to this point with there shooting. Horton was about 50 percent from the 3-point line until recently while Kinsler has the ultimate green light. We need to force these guys to miss, not hope they miss. We have to make them uncomfortable. I think we learned our lesson the other night about letting a guy see one or two go in and him having a big game."
Other MEC Games Wednesday:
Fairmont State @ Wheeling
Charleston @ Alderson Broaddus
Concord @ West Virginia Wesleyan
Glenville State @ Davis & Elkins
Frostburg State @ West Liberty
MEC Standings:
West Liberty 8-0 (13-1)
West Virginia State (7-1 13-1)
Charleston 6-2 (9-5)
Fairmont State 5-3 (10-4)
Concord 5-3 (8-4)
NDC 5-3 (8-5)
Glenville State 4-4 (8-6)
Davis & Elkins 3-5 (9-5)
Alderson Broaddus 3-5 (4-8)
Frostburg State 1-7 (5-9)
West Virginia Wesleyan 1-7 (1-11)
Wheeling 0-8 (2-12)
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