NDC Shocks Fairmont St. To Advance To MEC Semis!

The Notre Dame College Falcons pulled off one of the biggest upsets in school history Friday afternoon when they knocked off Fairmont State 79-78 in the quarterfinals of the Mountain East Conference Tournament at the Charleston Civic Center. With the win NDC improved to 20-10 on the season. While the Fighting Falcons of FSU dropped to 25-4 on the season.
  NDC was led by Will Vorhees with 21 points and eight rebounds- Tyree Gaiter and Kyauta Taylor added 20 points each. Taylor drained the two free throws that proved to be the game winner's- while Gaiter became the all-time scoring leader in NDC history (passing Eric Dummermuth.)  Ja'Sean Lewis also played a big role in the upset victory. Lewis scored seven points and pulled down a game high 18 rebounds. Lewis also made the block that sealed the victory for NDC.
  The Falcons shot 48 percent (29-60) on the afternoon- they only shot 30 percent (4-13) from the 3-point line- NDC shot 71 percent (17-24) at the free throw line.  NDC won the rebounding battle 43-37. They had 17 assists and 11 turnovers.
  The Fighting Falcons were led by Matt Bingaya who scored 20 points- Thomas Wimbush scored 14 and pulled down nine rebounds- Jason Jolly netted 11- and- Jamel Morris chipped in 10.  FSU shot 43 percent (26-61) as a team. They shot 28 percent (5-18) from the 3-point line-  while the Fighting Falcons shot 64 percent (21-33) from the free throw line.  They had 13 assists and 12 turnovers.
  NDC jumped out to an early lead and led by 10 (19-9) after a Gaiter basket at the 8:59 mark of the opening half. The lead would remain at 10 for a few more minutes before FSU would cut it to six (31-25.) NDC would stretch the lead to nine (45-36) at halftime.
  The first few minutes of the second half were player evenly. Vorhees nailed a 3-pointer at the 15:31 mark to give NDC a 11 point lead (54-43.)  Over the next four minutes the Fighting Falcons would go on  a 13-4 run and cut the lead to two (58-56.)  At the 10:05 mark a Taylor 3-pointer would give NDC a five point edge (63-58.)  Gaiter would hit a 3-pointer at the 7:58 mark to make him the all time scoring leader in NDC history (2,354 career points.)  NDC would lead 70-65 but the Fighting Falcons would fight back to knot the game at 73 at the 2:37 mark. Vorhees would hit a pair of free throws to give NDC the lead back 75-73 on the next possession. The Fighting Falcons would get a old fashioned 3-point play from Bingaya and lead 76-75 at the 1:16 mark. That was the Fighting Falcons first lead of the game. Ryan Hickoff would score on a putback with 54 seconds to go to give NDC the lead back. A Wimbush jumper would give FSU the lead (78-77) with 31 seconds remaining. Gaiter drove the lane and his shot was blocked, Lewis grabbed the rebound and missed the put back. Lewis kept the possession alive as he swatted his own miss out to Taylor who was fouled with 6.5 seconds to go. Taylor a 55 percent free throw shooter on the year calmly nailed both to give NDC the lead. Fairmont State had a chance to win in the last seconds but Lewis came away with the rejection when NDC needed it most and NDC moved on.
 The Falcons will face second seeded and nationally fourth ranked Wheeling Jesuit Saturday night. Tip time at the Charleston Civic Center is set for 8:15 PM.
Other MEC Tournament Scores:
#2 Wheeling Jesuit 67 #7 West Virginia Wesleyan 51
#1 West Liberty 73 #9 Glenville State 71
#4 Concord 75 #5 Charleston 61
MEC Semifinals Saturday:
#1 West Liberty vs #4 Concord 6 PM
#2 Wheeling Jesuit vs #6 Notre Dame College 8:15 PM