After an RJ Ogom tip in with 21 seconds left in overtime the Notre Dame College Falcons advanced to the MEC Quarterfinals with a 100-98 win on Wednesday night at WesBanco Arena. With the win NDC improves to 15-13 on the year. Wheeling sees its season come to an end at 10-18.
"It was a heck of a game. It wasn't a pretty game but we came back from that deficit in the final 45 seconds.," NDC head coach Mark Richmond stated. "We played three really good games against that team. The difference in the first two games was rebounding but they shored that up tonight. It was a little different this time but anytime you beat a team three times is a heck of an accomplishment. Chris (Richardson) has done a heck of a job with those guys and has brought along some of there younger guys," he added.
Junior Andre Harris scored a career high 30 points, junior Gbolahan Adio added 20, while redshirt sophomore Devin Haid and junior Josh Dames netted 16 each.
For Wheeling Marcus Johnson and Sean Ealy each tallied 24, Alex Smith added 13, Tee Harris notched 12, and SJ Hutchinson chipped in 10.
Wheeling jumped out to a 12-4 lead before Haid made a layup and Harris put back a missed shot to trim the lead to 12-8 with 15:31 in the opening half. The Cardinals took a 17-10 lead on a Smith 3-pointer at the 14:30 mark of the opening half. The WU lead was 10 (24-14) on a Kevin Coleman layup at the 12 minute mark of the opening stanza. The lead stayed at 10 for the next four minutes. After a 3-ball by Dames and a Haid triple NDC was within six (33-27) at the 7:25 mark of the opening half. NDC got to within four (41-37) on a Dames triple with 5:30 until halftime. NDC would get to within two on a pair of occasions.. At halftime the Cardinals led 52-48.
NDC was led by Haid with 16 and Harris 14 in the opening half. The Falcons shot 54.5 percent from the field, 45.5 percent (5-11) from the 3-point line, and 58.3 percent (7-12) from the free throw line in the opening half. The Falcons had six assists and three turnovers in the opening stanza.
Wheeling was led by Ealy with 13 and Smith 10 in the opening 20 minutes. The Cardinals shot 58.1 percent from the field, 50 percent ((7-14) from the 3-point line, and 75 percent (9-12) from the free throw line in the first half.
Dames hit two free throws with 15:56 to go in regulation. A triple by Adio at the 14:51 mark would get NDC to within two (65-63.) After a Harris two hand jam and a layup by Dames at the 13:07 mark after an Adio steal NDC was on top 69-67. The game was on the see-saw until two Johnson free throws tied it at 75 with 8:16 to go. The game went back and forth until it was tied at 86 with 29 seconds to go. NDC had a shot to win at the end of regulation but we headed to overtime.
The see-saw affair continued until it was 93-90 Wheeling after a Johnson three-point play at the 2:52 mark of overtime. It was a four point (98-94) Wheeling lead with 54 seconds to go in the extra session but a Trent Williams 3-pointer cut it to one with 40 seconds to go. After a pair of missed free throws NDC got the ball back and Harris missed a layup but Ogom tipped in what would be the game winner at the 21 second mark. After an Adio block he was fouled and split a pair of free throws. A Johnson 3-pointer was off the mark and the celebration ensued for the Falcons to live to fight another day.
In the game NDC shot 54.7 percent from the field, 45.8 percent (11-24) from the 3-point line, and 51.4 percent (19-37) from the free throw line. NDC had 13 assists and eight turnovers in the contest.
Wheeling shot 47.8 percent from the field, 37 percent (10-27) from the 3-point line, and 77.4 percent (24-31) from the free throw line. The Cardinals won the rebounding battle 42-37. They had eight assists and nine turnovers in the contest.
"I just needed to slow down and take my time. My teammates found me and that was big," Adio mentioned when talking about what has clicked for him on offense in the last four or five games."
"Just proud of our guys how hard we battled tonight," Richmond added.
NDC will advance to Friday's quarterfinals where they will take on University of Charleston Friday at 6 PM.
Other MEC Opening round game:
Glenville State 95 Frostburg State 59
MEC Quarterfinals Friday:
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