Will Vorhees knocked down a jumper with less than two seconds to go that lifted the Notre Dame College Falcons to a thrilling 77-75 win over Slippery Rock in the first night of the Conference Challenge. With the victory NDC goes to 1-0 on the season, while " The Rock" falls to 0-1 with the loss.
Vorhees led a pair of NDC players with double-doubles on the day. Vorhees had 29 points and 14 rebounds- while Angelo Cugini scored 17 points to go along with 13 rebounds. This included a pair of crucial 3-pointer's in the game's final 2:52. Isaiah Sanders also scored in double figures with 16 points on the night. The Falcons shot 55 percent as a team- including a scorching hot 65 percent in the second half. They shot 46 percent (6-13) on the 3-point line- and- 63 percent (15-24) from the free throw line. The Falcons won the rebounding battle 40-34. They had 10 assists and 16 turnovers in the contest.
Slippery Rock was led by Micah Till who scored 31 points-and- Jared Armstrong scored 11. "The Rock" shot 38 percent as a team- 28 percent (9-32) from the 3-point line- and- 71 percent (12-17) at the free throw line. Slippery Rock had 13 assists and nine turnovers as a team.
The game was hard-fought throughout. The lead changed hands 13 times in the contest. NDC led by as many as nine but Slippery Rock would not go away. NDC would trail by as many as four in the final three minutes but a Cugini 3-pointer with 2:52 to go would cut it to one. Till would answer with a 3-pointer of his own. After a NDC timeout with 17.9 seconds to go the Falcons would go to Vorhees and he would drain the game winner. A desperation heave by Slippery Rock would not go as the Falcons went 1-0.
Cugini talked about how Vorhees is made for these moments:
" That is a play that has been drawn up and Will has been making in practice for five years now. It is why he is one of the best players in the country."
Coach Tim Koenig spoke about the NDC bench tonight:
" The bench was great for us tonight. Angelo and Will are our captains for a reason. Jack (Kelsheimer) was huge as well, he lost his voice and is helping us a lot even though he is hurt".
Vorhees spoke about the physicality of the game:
" It was a really physical game tonight. They had some guys who were six-foot- ten in there. We won the rebounding battle and that is always a goal of ours."
Koenig agreed:
" It was a slugfest tonight."
All three guys spoke about how the freshman stepped up:
" Kam and Isaiah were huge for us tonight. Isaiah had a big steal and dunk in the first half. Kam was really good in the first half as well. He had a big and one when Slippery Rock was on a run in the first half."
Koenig talked about some things that need to be cleaned up:
" It was nice to get the win but we need to shoot free throws better and turn the ball over less."
Then he spoke about the seniors late:
" Angelo and Will were big obviously with those shots they hit, but they were really good in the huddle. They kept all the players engaged.
Cugini spoke about it being a team win:
" It was a great team win tonight. We were really good from top to bottom tonight. In all the years I have played basketball this is some of the best chemistry I have ever felt with one team."
The Falcons will be back in action at Joe Rhetton Arena Saturday at 6 PM when they take on Cal (Pa.) To get the live action go to https://fightingfalcons.com
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