Mountain Lions Nip NDC Sunday.

The Notre Dame Falcons wild MEC tournament ride came to an end Sunday. After defeating Fairmont State Friday and Wheeling Jesuit Saturday, the Falcons could not get past  Concord Sunday. The Mountain Lions prevailed 70-64. NDC's season most likely came to an end at 21-11. Concord improves to 22-9 and gets the MEC automatic bid into the NCAA DII Atlantic Regional.
  The Mountain Lions were led by five  players in double figures. Terry Hopewell led the way with 19 points and 13 rebounds- Jametrius Wade added 13 points and 13 boards- Rob Reed and Michael Sanchez scored 12 points each- while Aaron Miller added 11.  The Mountain Lions shot 43 percent (21-49) from the floor as a team- they shot 23 percent (5-22) from the 3-point line- at the free throw line the Mountain Lions shot at a 74 percent clip (23-31.)  They won the rebounding battle 43-38. Concord had 15 assists and 18 turnovers.
  NDC was led by 23 points- 8 assists and five rebounds from Tyree Gaiter in most likely his final game as a Falcon- Kyauta Taylor scored 18- while Will Vorhees added 13 points and seven rebounds. The Falcons shot 34 percent (25-73) from the field on the day- they could not find their stroke from the 3-point line where they shot 22 percent (8-37.) From the free throw line the Falcons shot at a 75 percent clip (6-8.)  They had 16 assists and 10 turnovers.
   The game started off at a slower pace and was knotted at nine seven minutes in.  The Falcons would score the next eight points to take a 17-9 lead at the 11:25 mark of the opening half. NDC would stretch the lead to 13 (26-13) after a Taylor 3-pointer with 8:30 minutes until halftime.  The Mountain Lions would then run off the next 10 points to trim the lead to three (26-23.)  NDC would take a four point lead (33-29) into the locker room.
  NDC would score the first four points of the second half, a Vorhees bucket would give them a eight point lead (37-29.)  The Mountain Lions would fight back and tie the game again, this time at 44 with 13:21 to go.  The Mountain Lions would briefly have a four point lead that NDC would cut to two (50-48.) The Mountain Lions would then come up with a big 9-1 run to open up a eight point lead (57-49) at the 9:04 mark.  After a quick 5-0 burst the Falcons would get to within three (57-54) at the 5:48 mark.  NDC got to within one (61-60) with just under two minutes left and it was anybody's game.  That's as close as the Falcons would get.
NDC will find out their fate on the NCAA DII Selection Show on NCAA.com this evening at 10:30 PM.