The Notre Dame College Falcons knew the importance of this one going into it- and- behind a solid defensive effort as well as a big advantage on the glass- in second chance points- and- at the free throw line NDC came away with a 77-68 win that was the team's fifth straight at home- this one coming on Senior night.
Senior Bruce Hodges was fired up afterwards:
" Five in a row at home!"Hodges stated.
Coach Mark Richmond talked about the effort tonight:
"I was really happy with the effort tonight. As I have been preaching all year if you guard- and- finish possessions with rebounds good things happen even if the shots aren't falling.We had 14 second chance points tonight and that was big in this one."Richmond explained.
Richmond continued:
" I was proud of the way we came thru at the free throw line tonight- and- how timely some of those 13 offensive rebounds we had were. They fouled us- and- we had to be strong."
NDC (9-15 7-11 MEC) pulled into a tie in the standings with the Bobcats as the two teams split the season series. DeAnothy Owens led the way with 21 points- and- eight rebounds on senior day- fellow senior Drew Scarberry had 13 to go along with six rebounds. Levi Frankland who came off the bench tonight as Dan Lott got the start also had 13- while Bruce Hodges added 11 of his own on his senior night. . They shot 42 percent as a team- 19 percent (4-21) from the 3-point line- and- 92 percent (23-25) from the free throw line. The Falcons won the rebounding battle 38-29. They had 10 assists- and- 14 turnovers as a team in the victory.
Frostburg State (10-14 7-11 MEC) was paced by Terry Kenner with 18 points- Daniel Alexander- and- Joe Adedayo each netted 12. The Bobcats shot 49 percent as a team- 31 percent (5-16) from the 3-point line- and- 63 percent (5-8) from the free throw line. They had 11 assists- and- 15 turnovers in the contest.
The game was a see saw battle that saw 10 ties and 19 lead changes. The first three points were scored by the Bobcats before Owens would score the next four. It would be 9-5 Falcons after a Scarberry 3-pointer at the 13:44 mark of the opening half. The next six points would go the Bobcats way before a layup by Lott tied the game at 11.
Richmond talked about how Lott impacted the game tonight even without making shots:
"Dan really affected the game even though he did not make shots tonight. He got some big rebounds as well."
Frankland would give NDC the lead with a 3-ball at the 9:55 mark of the half. Frostburg would score the next four points- before NDC got the lead back 16-15 after a Jacob Sala layup with 8:52 in the half. The two teams would go back and forth until a Hodges basket and free throw gave NDC a 25-22 lead at the 5:38 mark of the opening stanza. Frostburg would score the next four points and then a pair of Scarberry free throws put NDC on top. The next five points would go the Bobcats way but NDC would get a pair of Hodges layup's and the two teams would head to the locker room tied at 31.
NDC shot 37 percent from the field- 13 percent (2-15) from the 3-point line- and- a perfect three of three at the free throw line in the first 20 minutes. The Falcons had six assists- and- six turnovers as well.
Frostburg was led by Adedayo with 10 points in the half- while Kenner added five. The Bobcats shot 50 percent in the first half- 60 percent (3-5) from the free throw line- and- were ahead on the glass 18-17. They had five assists- and- nine turnovers as a team in the opening stanza.
The first four points of the second stanza went to the Bobcats. A 3-pointer by Jordan Burton would make it a 39-38 NDC deficit at the 16:56 mark. Scarberry would hit two more free throws 39 seconds later and the Falcons were back on top. Kenner would give the Bobcats a brief lead but then the Falcons got it back. Scarberry split a pair of free throws at the 14:45 mark and the game was tied at 43. Frankland and Kenner would then trade buckets. The game would again be tied at 47 after Alexander tied it. The Falcons would take control with a 9-0 run capped by a pair of Frankland free throws at the 8:46 mark- and- never look back. The Bobcats would get to within four (56-52) as Alexander knocked down a 3-ball. Burton made a layup but it was answered by a Kenner 3-pointer. Owens would knock down a pair of free throws and it would be 60-55 NDC at the 7:16 mark. NDC would get the lead out to eight (65-57) after a Frankland jumper with 5:05 to go. The Falcons would cruise to victory from that point on.
Richmond talked about how strong his team was with the ball:
"We had to be strong with the ball. They fouled us. Like I said earlier though those free throws were big tonight."
Richmond also spoke about the bench:
"The bench was really good tonight. We had some different rotations tonight with it being senior night but the bench really came thru."
Richmond also talked about the offense:
"For whatever reason the offense was not as good as it has been lately tonight. We were not as crisp. I am proud of these guys though finding different ways to win."
As for the adjustments after halftime and the defensive effort as a whole:
" We turned them loose- and- made them shoot jump shots. We know they are not the best shooting team in this league. The team defense was much better though. Holding the leading scorer in the conference to 10 points under his average is no small feat."
NDC will remain home as they will take on Charleston Wednesday night with tip time slated for 7:30 PM.
Richmond talked about the challenges ahead:
"It is a good time to be playing well at home with March just around the corner. Obviously we have two ranked opponents coming in to close out the home slate."
Other MEC Scores:
Charleston 75 West Virginia Wesleyan 62
Fairmont State 73 Urbana 70
West Liberty 116 Concord 74
Wheeling 78 Glenville State 67
West Virginia State 85 Davis & Elkins 74
MEC Standings:
West Liberty 15-3 (20-4)
Charleston 13-5 (19-5)
Fairmont State 13-5 (18-5)
West Virginia State 12-6 (17-6)
Wheeling 10-8 (13-9)
Glenville State 10-8 (13-11)
West Virginia Wesleyan 8-10 (9-15)
NDC 7-11 (9-15)
Frostburg State 7-11 (10-14)
Concord 5-13 (8-16)
Davis & Elkins 4-14 (6-18)
Urbana 4-14 (5-19)
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