The Notre Dame College Falcons (4-10 2-6 MEC) fresh off a 85-83 upset win over Fairmont State on Saturday will host the West Virginia State Yellow Jackets in MEC action at Murphy Gym. WVSU comes into the contest at 10-3 and 5-3 in the MEC- but are just 2-2 away from home. The game is scheduled to tip at 7:30 PM. You can catch all the action on NotreDameFalcons.com
Coach Mark Richmond talked about the game at hand:
" We are excited to be at home again. We have not won two in a row yet this season. We will look to continue our momentum from Saturday though. We will need to protect the ball and get good shots amongst other things."Richmond said.
Senior Guard Bruce Hodges talked about what he expects Wednesday:
" We have to come out and play 40 minutes! Bring the same energy we brought on Saturday! Stay together thru tough times." Hodges mentioned.
In the win over Fairmont State five NDC players scored in double figures paced by Drew Scarberry with 23 points- and- eight rebounds. Jordan Burton added 17- DeAnthony Owens tallied 14- and- both Hodges- and Levi Frankland scored 13. NDC shot 54 percent as a team- 40 percent from the 3-point line (8-20-) and- 72 percent (13-18) from the free throw line. NDC is scoring 79.2 points per game- while they allow 80.9 per night which are both good for sixth in the MEC.
One area that the Falcons have excelled in especially of late is rebounding. Richmond talked about the emphasis:
" We have emphasized rebounding for sure. You do what you emphasize as a team. We need multiple guys to gang rebound. To be honest we need balance like that in every category as a team. When our guards rebound we can get out and run. When our big guys rebound it will be a slower pace- and- outlet passes will be thrown."
As has been the case all season Frankland paces the season box score at 17.0 points per game- he is also shooting 52 percent from the field (both of those numbers good for eighth in the MEC.) Frankland is the top 3-point shooter by percentage (44 percent in the MEC.) Owens is putting up 16.5 per contest- to go along with 6.4 rebounds- Scarberry averages 15.1 points- and- is grabbing 5.7 rebounds a night. By shooting at a 32 percent clip from the 3-point line Scarberry is sixth in the conference. Larenz Thurman nets 12.1 points per night- and- is seventh in the MEC dishing out 3.6 assists per contest while battling a lingering injury. Jordan Burton has stepped into the starting lineup- and- the freshman from Cardinal Stritch is putting up 10.1 points a game- while dishing out 3.1 assists per night. The Falcons are 3-3 at home on the season- having won the last two.
WVSU has won four straight including a 85-84 win over West Virginia Wesleyan on Saturday. The Yellow Jackets are 2-2 away from home. Anthony Pittman had 21 points- Jeremiah Moore netted 19- Michal Seals scored 15- Glen Abrom netted 12- and- TreOhn Watkins chipped in 10 as well in the victory. WVSU shot 45 percent from the field- 36 percent from the 3-point line (9-25-) and- 67 percent (14-21) from the free throw line. As a team the Yellow Jackets are averaging 98.5 points per game- while they allow 92.7 points per night.
Richmond talked about the 1-3-1 and picking and choosing spots when to use it:
" The 1-3-1 has been good to us for sure. We do give up some things when we are in it. We are looking to do what we did against Fairmont State- which was to get some easy baskets. We just need to guard without fouling."
Abrom leads the Yellow Jackets- and- is seventh in the MEC scoring 17.5 points per contest- Pittman is averaging a team leading 8.2 rebounds to go along with his 14.8 point average. Moore is netting 13.9 per night- and- hauling in 6.5 rebounds per night. Seals leads the team dishing out 4.5 assists per night along with his 13.6 points per night- while Watkins chips in 11.4 points per night.
Richmond talked a little more about guarding this team and the importance of offense as well:
" We are going to have to get pressure on the rim- obviously we will have to score to beat them. We need to hold them under that 99 per game- and- get closer to the 80 a game that we average. They play a lot of guys- they are going to put there heads down- and- get to the rim."
Other MEC Games Wednesday:
Concord @ West Virginia Wesleyan
Charleston @ Urbana
Frostburg State @ Wheeling
Fairmont State @ West Liberty
Glenville State @ Davis & Elkins
MEC Standings:
Charleston 6-2 (12-2)
West Liberty 6-2 (11-3)
Fairmont State 5-3 (10-3)
West Virginia State 5-3 (10-3)
Wheeling 5-3 (8-4)
Glenville State 5-3 (8-6)
West Virginia Wesleyan 4-4 (5-9)
Frostburg State 3-5 (6-8)
Urbana 3-5 (4-10)
Concord 2-6 (4-9)
Davis & Elkins 2-6 (4-9)
NDC 2-6 (4-10)
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