The Notre Dame College Falcons hit the road on Wednesday night to face the West Virginia State Yellow Jackets at the Walker Convocation Center. Tip time is set for 7:30 PM. As always you can catch all the action on the Mountain East Digital network at MountainEast.TV
NDC Head Coach Mark Richmond talked about the challenge at hand:
"We're excited to head back out on the road on Wednesday at West Virginia State. They are a tall, long, and athletic group," Richmond explained. " We will have to do a great job handling their pressure and rebounding the ball."
NDC (9-5 6-2 MEC) is coming off a hard fought 85-83 loss to #23 Fairmont State on Saturday. Jaedon Willis paced three Falcons in double figures with 23 points, Tyland Crawford added 14, and Mike Kirkland came off the bench to tally 13. NDC shot 52 percent from the field, 39 percent (10-26) from the 3-point line, and shot at a 79 percent clip (11-14) from the free throw line. The Falcons also won the rebounding battle 34-30. As a team NDC is scoring 81 points per night which is good for fifth in the MEC. Defensively they are giving up a MEC sixth best 79.4 points per contest. The Falcons are shooting 47 percent from the field which is fourth in the MEC, while they are shooting 39.4 percent from the 3-point line which is second in the conference. They are sixth in the MEC shooting 72 percent from the free throw line on the year. On the glass NDC is eighth in the MEC being out-rebounded by two boards per contest (34.4-36.4.)
Coach Richmond talked about what his team will have to do offensively tomorrow:
"Offensively we will have to to do a great job of playing off two feet and scoring through contact because they are very good at protecting the rim and blocking shots."
Willis leads the Falcons in scoring putting up 21.3 points per night which is good for fourth in the MEC. Willis is also ninth in the MEC shooting 79.5 percent from the free throw line. He is fifth in the MEC shooting at a 38 percent clip from the 3-point line, as well as leading the conference making 3.3 3-pointer's per game. Crawford is netting 12.5 points per game, while Mike Sampson is also averaging double figures putting up 10.5 points per game. The 8.2 rebounds that Sampson is averaging are good for fourth in the MEC while he is leading the team with 3.1 assists per night. Sampson also is leading the team in steals, and is seventh in the conference getting 1.9 steals per night.
The Yellow Jackets (9-5 4-3 MEC) come into Wednesday riding a four game win streak and are 4-1 at home on the season. Last time out they were an 81-72 winner over Davis& Elkins over the weekend. Jeremiah Moore poured in a game high 30 points to lead four WVSU players in double figures. He was joined by Glen Abram (15 points,) Noah Jordan (12,) and Anthony Pittman (12.) WVSU shot 47 percent from the field, 27 percent (6-22) from the 3-point line, and 60 percent (9-15) from the free throw line. They also won the rebounding battle 45-37. As a team WVSU is eighth in the MEC putting up 78.8 points per game, while on the defensive end they allow a league third best 77.1 points per contest. The Yellow Jackets are 10th in the conference shooting 43 percent from the field, while at the other end they are third in the conference allowing a 45 percent field goal percentage. WVSU is 11th in the conference shooting 31 percent from the 3-point line as well. At the free throw line they are third in the conference shooting 74 percent at the free throw line. On the glass WVSU is fifth in the MEC being out-rebounded by 0.8 (38.6-39.4) rebounds per contest. Abram leads the team and is 10th in the MEC scoring 17.9 points per game. Moore averages 14.6 points per game, Pittman tallies 14.3 points per night, and Jordan puts up 10.3 per game. Pittman is averaging 8.4 rebounds per game which is third in the conference. While Moore is sixth in the MEC grabbing 7.8 rebounds per contest. Abram leads the Yellow Jackets in assists dishing out 2.6 per contest. Pittman is third in the league in steals getting 2.5 per contest. Pittman is also third in the MEC blocking 1.3 shots per night.
Richmond gave his final thought about this one:
" We will have to play extremely hard and smart to go on the road and give ourselves a chance to beat a very good team."
Tyland Crawford agreed:
" We just need to bounce back after a tough loss on Saturday. We will be ready to go on Wednesday," Crawford mentioned.
Other MEC Games Wednesday:
Wheeling @ Fairmont State
West Virginia Wesleyan @ Concord
West Liberty @ Frostburg State
Alderson Broaddus @ Charleston- Ppd.
Davis & Elkins @ Glenville State
MEC Standings:
West Liberty 7-1 (13-1)
Charleston 6-1 (10-2)
Fairmont State 6-2 (11-2)
NDC 6-2 (9-5)
West Virginia State 4-3 (9-5)
Alderson Broaddus 4-4 (7-5)
Concord 3-5 (5-8)
Frostburg State 3-5 (5-9)
Wheeling 3-5 (4-10)
Glenville State 2-5 (5-6)
Davis & Elkins 2-5 (4-8)
West Virginia Wesleyan 0-8 (1-13)
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