The Notre Dame College Falcons and the West Virginia State Yellow Jackets are coming down the stretch of the MEC race and are set to meet in what could be a preview of the quarterfinals of the Mountain East Conference Tournament in a couple weeks. If the tournament started today this would be the matchup. NDC head coach Mark Richmond said his team will be really tested Saturday:
"Huge test against West Virginia State on Saturday, "Richmond mentioned.The game will tip off at 4 PM inside Murphy Gym. You can catch all the action on the Mountain East Digital Network at MountainEast.TV
NDC (15-10 12-7 MEC) had a five game win streak snapped on Wednesday when they fell 85-78 at the University of Charleston. Jaedon Willis led the Falcons with 24 points, Mike Sampson added 14 to go along with three steals, while John Godinez tallied 11. NDC shot 51 percent from the field, 44 percent (8-18) from the 3-point line and 84 percent (16-19) at the free throw line.
Richmond talked about his team:
"We will have to do a great job of rebounding and taking care of the ball."
The Falcons are averaging 79.7 points per game which is seventh best in the MEC but have clamped down of late on the defensive end where they are now third in the conference allowing 77.8 points per night. NDC is sixth in the conference shooting 46.6 percent from the field but are holding the opposition to an MEC second best 45.7 percent from the floor. They are shooting 37.2 percent from the 3-point line which is third best in the conference while they allow the opponents to shoot 35.5 percent from the 3-point line which is eighth in the MEC. They shoot at a 73.7 percent clip from the free throw line which is fifth in the conference. The Falcons have shared the ball well as they are third in the conference dishing out 15.2 assists per night. On the glass NDC is being out-rebounded by 1.3 (34.4-35.7) boards per contest. Willis paces the offense as he has all season long. The junior from Baltimore is fourth in the MEC and 22nd in all of Division II getting 20.8 points per game. His 519 total points are seventh in the country. Willis is tied for first in the MEC and 20th in DII making 3.1 3-pointer's per night as well. Additionally he is leading the team in assists (3.2 per game,) is third in the MEC shooting 39 percent from the 3-point line as well as being seventh in the conference shooting 82.9 percent from the free throw line. Tyland Crawford is scoring 11.9 points per game as well as grabbing six rebounds per contest, the junior from Virginia is ninth in the MEC playing 34.9 minutes per night as well. Sampson is also averaging in double figures getting 11 points per night and is fifth in the MEC in both rebounds per game (8.2) and steals per game (2.04.) In the first meeting with the Yellow Jackets NDC fell 83-73. Willis paced NDC with 20, Crawford netted 13, and DeAirius Barker tallied 11. They shot 45 percent from the field, 29 percent (6-21) from the 3-point line and 64 percent (7-11) from the free throw line in the contest.
West Virginia State (20-6 15-4 MEC) is coming off a 100-84 win over Alderson Broaddus Wednesday. Ernest Jenkins and Anthony Pittman paced WVSU with 20 points each, Glen Abram added 17, Jeremiah Moore scored 16, and Noah Jordan tallied 11. Richmond talked about all the weapons they have:
"They are extremely talented and have multiple guys that are capable of having big games.They are playing as well as anyone in the country after winning 15 out of 16 games."
They shot 50 percent as a team against AB, 42 percent (10-24) from the 3-point line and 71 percent (12-17) at the free throw line. WVSU is fifth in the MEC on offense (84.6 points per game) as we'll as defense (78.9 points per night.) They shoot 47.3 percent as a team which is fifth in the MEC while they are allowing the opposition to shoot 45.8 percent which is fourth in the conference. From the 3-pont line WVSU is 10th shooting 34.6 percent but the opposition is shooting 33.4 percent which is fourth in the MEC. They shoot at a 74 percent clip from the free throw line which is also fourth in the MEC. On the glass the Yellow Jackets are sixth being out-rebounded by 0.8 (36.8-37.6) boards per contest. The 14.4 assists they average per game is seventh in the MEC. Abram leads the team in scoring at 19.3 points per game which is seventh in the MEC. Abram's 502 points are 19th in the country and he is tied with Willis atop the MEC and 21st in DII making 3.1 triples per night.He is also fourth in the conference shooting 34.8 percent from the 3-point line. Pittman scores 15.7 points per night and joins Sampson from NDC grabbing 8.2 rebounds per night which is fifth in the MEC. His 2.2 steals per game are 22nd in the country. Moore scores 14.3 points per game and gets seven rebounds per night. Jordan rounds out the double digit scorers getting 11.4 points per game. Dwaine Jones leads the Yellow Jackets and is fifth in the MEC dishing out 4.3 assists per contest.
Richmond gave his final thought on this one:
"We will need our best effort to have a chance in this one."
Other MEC Games Saturday:
Charleston @ Alderson Broaddus
West Virginia Wesleyan @ Glenville State
Davis & Elkins @ Concord
West Liberty @ Fairmont
Wheeling @ Frostburg State
MEC Standings:
West Liberty 17-2 (23-2)
Fairmont State 15-4 (20-4)
Charleston 15-4 (20-5)
West Virginia State 15-4 (20-6)
NDC 12-7 (15-10)
Concord 9-10 (12-13)
Alderson Broaddus 8-11 (11-13)
Glenville State 7-12 (10-13)
Wheeling 7-12 (8-17)
Davis & Elkins 4-15 (6-19)
Frostburg State 4-15 (6-19)
West Virginia Wesleyan 1-18 (2-23)
Atlantic Region Rankings (Top Eight Qualify:)
Indiana (PA)
West Liberty
Fairmont State
Pitt-Johnstown
Cal (PA)
MercyHurst
Millersville
West Virginia State
Shippensburg
Virginia Union
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