The Notre Dame College Falcons came into Wednesday's game short handed- hung with West Virginia State much of the way- but ultimately fell 94-85 inside of Murphy Gym. With the loss the Falcons fall to 4-11 and 2-7 in the MEC. West Virginia State improved to 11-3 and 6-3 in the MEC with the win.
Coach Mark Richmond gave his thoughts about this one:
" I was really proud of our effort tonight. We were short-handed as you said(Larenz Thurman did not play- and- Bruce Hodges did not return after halftime.) The difference in the game was offensive rebounding- and- they had some key rebounds at key times. We got to within two- got a stop- and- could not get the rebound or score and then they scored it at the other end. We knew they were going to put there heads down- and- drive. 53 points in the paint obviously is way to many though.
NDC was paced by Levi Frankland who scored 25 points- Jordan Burton tallied 15- Drew Scarberry netted 14- and- Dan Lott chipped in 12 off the bench.
Richmond talked about Lott earning more minutes since the season has begun:
" Dan has come thru for us several times this year. He just continues to work- and- has earned more minutes."
NDC shot 56 percent from the floor- 36 percent (9-25) from the 3-point line- and- 75 percent (six of eight at the free throw line.) Each team had 31 rebounds. NDC had 15 assists- and- 17 turnovers as a team.
The Yellow Jackets were paced by the duo of Anthony Pittman (30 points- and- Glen Abram (24.) Jeremiah Moore also chipped in 12. WVSU shot 54 percent as a team- 24 percent (5-21) from the 3-point line- and- 76 percent (19-25) from the free throw line. They had 10 assists- and- 11 turnovers.
Richmond talked about Pittman and Moore:
" Pittman is athletic- and- strong. He is good around the rim. We tried to throw multiple guys at him- and- give him different looks but he had a few and one's- and- was really good in transition. Abram is a good player also. They both got to the free throw line- and- scored eight points each from there."
NDC was ahead 13-10 five minutes into this one after a Frankland 3-pointer. NDC would stretch the lead to nine (22-13) after a four-point play by Scarberry at the 12:34 mark of the opening half. Bruce Hodges would stretch the lead to 11 with a basket- and- then the lead would go back to 11 (26-15) on a Jacob Sala layup at the 11:07 mark of the first half. The Yellow Jackets would get to within five (30-25) before Frankland would score another hoop. After Pittman split a pair of free throws Burton would give NDC a eight point lead (34-26) at the 5:33 mark after a jumper. The lead would quickly evaporate as the game would be knotted at 36 after a Pittman three-point play. Abram put WVSU on top before NDC ran off the next five points as Lott would score on a layup- and- a jumper. NDC would take a 41-40 lead into the locker room.
Frankland scored 13 points in the first 20 minutes- and- Burton added nine in the first half. NDC shot 52 percent in the first half- 33 percent (4-12) from the 3-point line- and- 60 percent (3-5) at the free throw line. The Falcons were ahead on the glass 18-11 in the half- and- had nine assists to go along with nine turnovers.
WVSU was led in the opening half by Pittman with 12 points- while Abram had eight. They shot 60 percent from the floor in the first 20 minutes- 30 percent (3-10) from the 3-point line- and- 64 percent (7-11) from the free throw line. They had five assists- and- eight turnovers in the half.
The second half saw the Falcons tie the game at 43 after a Burton jumper at the 19:15 mark. The Yellow Jackets would then use there full court pressure to force some turnovers- and- it would be 57-45 in favor of WVSU after a Abram dunk at the 15:59 mark.
Richmond talked about the Yellow Jackets taking advantage:
"That is what pressing teams do. They sped us up a little bit late first half- and- early second half. We did not have a ton of timeouts at the time- and- that was a big factor after they made that run. We kind of ran out of juice late first half- and- early second. They knew we were short-handed- and- they kind of wore us down."
NDC got to within five (61-56) after a Scarberry 3-pointer at the 13:14 mark- but Seals would convert a three point play to stretch it back to eight. After a Frankland three-point play at the 11:25 mark NDC was within three (66-63.) Moore would score the next four- but the Falcons would get a Ryan Cartaino jumper- and- a 3-pointer by Scarberry to make it 70-68 at the 10 minute mark. NDC would get to within two again (77-75) after a Frankland layup at the 6:39 mark but that is as close as they would get. NDC would get to within five a couple more times. The last being at the 36 second mark after a Lott jumper. Pittman- and- Abram would then close it out at the free throw line for the Yellow Jackets.
NDC will be back in action Saturday when they travel to Charleston. Tip time against UC is set for 4 PM.
Other MEC Scores:
Charleston 80 Urbana 64
West Liberty 105 Fairmont State 99
Wheeling 75 Frostburg State 61
West Virginia Wesleyan 83 Concord 80 (OT)
Davis & Elkins 79 Glenville State 73
MEC Standings:
Charleston 7-2 (13-2)
West Liberty 7-2 (12-3)
West Virginia State 6-3 (11-3)
Wheeling 6-3 (9-4)
Glenville State 5-4 (8-7)
West Virginia Wesleyan 5-4 (6-9)
Frostburg State 3-6 (6-9)
Davis & Elkins 3-6 (5-10)
Urbana 3-6 (4-11)
Concord 2-7 (4-10)
NDC 2-7 (4-11)
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