Empty Trip.

The Notre Dame College Falcons hung with the fifth ranked Fairmont State Fighting Falcons for much of the day but ultimately would fall 93-80 at Joe Retton Arena Saturday. NDC had a two point halftime lead, but would fall for the seventh time in the past 10 contests. With today's  loss NDC falls to 15-9 and 9-9 in the MEC. NDC has now lost three straight, all on the just completed road trip.  With the win FSU improves to 23-1 and 17-1 in the MEC. The Fighting Falcons remain atop the league standings.
  Thomas Wimbush led the Fighting Falcons with 24 points- Matt Bingaya scored 21 of his 22 points in the second half to go along with 11 rebounds- while DJ Stockman and Shamgod Wells each scored 17.  The Fighting Falcons shot 43 percent on the day- they shot 32 percent (10-31) from the 3-point line- went 25-36 (69 percent) at the free throw line- and- edged NDC on the glass 40-38.  The Fighting Falcons had 14 assists and 11 turnovers.
  NDC was led by Will Vorhees who scored 20 points- grabbed 10 rebounds- and- had eight assists.  Kyauta Taylor added 16- while- Drew Scarberry scored 14- Ja'Sean Lewis had nine points and 11 rebounds- but did not score in the second half.
  The Falcons shot 52 percent as a team- shot 13 percent (3-22) from the 3-point line- and- shot 58 percent (7-12) at the free throw line.  NDC had 19 assists and uncharacteristically had 19 turnovers.
  NDC jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the game's first two minutes as they were sparked by the return of Kobie Johnson to the starting lineup.  NDC led by six (10-4)- and- then stretched it to eight (18-10) after a Jacob Sawman layup with 12:19 in the opening half.  FSU would fight back and take the lead by two (29-27) after a Steven Solomon basket at the 7:38 mark.  FSU would stretch the lead to four two minutes later.  The remainder of the first half was tightly contested and NDC would take a 45-43 lead into the locker room after a Lewis tip in with seven seconds in the half.
  FSU came out and scored the first five points of the second half as Bingaya would get on track with a three-point play.  NDC would take the lead 49-48 after a pair of Scarberry free throws.  FSU would answer and take a five point lead (58-53) after a Stockman 3-pointer.  NDC would get to within two (63-61) after a Vorhees jumper with 9:52 to go.  NDC would only trail by three (74-71) after a Jay Banaysz layup at the 5:33 mark.  FSU would stretch the lead in the next minute with a 9-3 run that made it 83-74.  FSU would ultimately come away with a 93-80 win.
 Scarberry thought big picture after this one:
"We definitely showed that we are able to compete with anyone in our league and every night every team has to come to play.
"Now we take the momentum we had in the first half and thru the beginning of the second and carry it into the next few games and get some wins into the tournament." Scarberry said.
 Banyasz agreed with Scarberry:
" This game just shows what we are capable of doing as a team. We are confident that we can beat any team. "Banyasz said.
  NDC will be back in action Thursday when Virginia Wise comes to Murphy Gym. Tip time is set for 7:30 PM.
Other MEC Scores Saturday:
Wheeling Jesuit 95 Concord 84
West Liberty 88 Virginia Wise 66
Shepherd 102 Urbana 82
West Virginia Wesleyan 70 West Virginia State 59
Glenville State 87 Charleston 78
MEC Standings:
Fairmont State 17-1 (23-1)
West Liberty 16-2 (22-2)
Wheeling Jesuit 13-5 (19-5)
Shepherd 12-6 (15-9)
Notre Dame College 9-9 (15-9)
West Virginia Wesleyan 9-9 (12-12)
Charleston 8-10 (14-10)
Glenville State 7-11 (10-12)
Urbana 5-13 (10-14)
Virginia Wise 5-13 (7-17)
Concord 4-14 (8-16)
West Virginia State 3-15 (6-18)