NDC Knocks Off Wise To Snap Three Game Slide.

The Notre Dame College Falcons got 26 points from Drew Scarberry- Will Vorhees added a double-double (24 points and 17 rebounds-) while Kyauta Taylor netted 24- and- Ja'Sean Lewis scored 12 points- grabbed 12 rebounds- dished out seven assists- and- blocked five shots in a 93-86 win over Virginia Wise at Murphy Gym Thursday.
 Michal Seals led the Cavaliers with 33 points and six assists- while Taiwo Badmus scored 21 of his 25 points in the second half.  Dimitri Sousa chipped in 20 as well for Wise.
  NDC (16-9 10-9 MEC) shot 55 percent from the field- went 14-33 (42 percent) from the 3-point line- and- shot 60 percent (3-5) at the free throw line.  NDC was +10 on the boards, out-rebounding the Cavaliers 41-31 in the contest- NDC had 23 assists and 14 turnovers in the victory.
  Wise (7-18 5-14 MEC) shot 46 percent as a team- 48 percent (14-29) from the 3-point line- and shot 80 percent (8-10) at the free throw line.  The Cavaliers had 14 assists and 10 turnovers as a team.
  NDC would jump out to a quick six point lead (8-2) in the game's first four minutes.  The Falcons would get back to back hoops from Taylor and lead by five (13-8) with 13:52 left in the half.  Wise would then score the next eight points before Scarberry would hit back to back 3-pointer's to give NDC a 19-16 lead with 11 minutes to go in the opening half.  Wise would have a one point lead (28-27) and then would trail by four (37-33) late in the half.  The Falcons would fight back and tie the game at 42- before Kobie Johnson would nail a 3-pointer to give NDC a three point lead (45-42) at the intermission.
  The Cavaliers would come out hot in the second half as Badmus would hit two 3-pointer's early- before Vorhees would answer with a three of his own for the Falcons.  Wise would have a two point lead (56-54) with 15:17 to go. NDC would again have a response and would take a four point lead (64-60) four minutes later.  NDC would lead by six (72-66) as Scarberry would again connect from long range on back to back trips with 9:03 remaining.  Scarberry would get a quick run out and a dunk to maintain the NDC lead.  Wise would cut into the lead on a Badmus conventional 3-point play that made it 79-74 with just over six minutes to go.  The Falcons would stretch the lead to eight (84-76) with four and a half minutes remaining.  NDC would stretch the lead to 11 on a putback by Vorhees and cruise from there. Kobie Johnson would have a run out dunk with under a minute to go that would serve as the exclamation point in the 93-86 victory.
  Taylor spoke to me about getting off to a slow start early and Coach Koening lighting a fire under his team at halftime:
"Coach lit into us a little bit at halftime about not having any energy, especially at the defensive end and we responded in the second half. " Taylor said:
" For me offensively I needed to find some other ways to get going since my shot was not there early on.  Taylor added."
  Vorhees spoke about the game coming to him:
"For me it has been an adjustment. Teams are bringing double and triple teams at me. So at first I was forcing things, but now I am starting to rely on my teammates and find the open man more. "Vorhees said."
Scarberry on his 3-point shooting at home and the work he puts into his shot:
" I put up 300-400 3-pointer's a day, practice makes perfect. I get the home rolls in our gym and my teammates look for me." Scarberry said.
  NDC will be back in action Saturday when they take on Concord. Tip time at Murphy Gym is set for 3 PM.
Other MEC Scores:
West Liberty 92 West Virginia Wesleyan 69
Shepherd 75 Charleston 74
Concord 98 Urbana 91
Fairmont State 108 West Virginia State 72
Glenville State 79 Wheeling Jesuit 71
MEC Standings:
Fairmont State 18-1 (24-1)
West Liberty 17-2 (23-2)
Wheeling Jesuit 13-6 (19-6)
Shepherd 13-6 (16-9)
Notre Dame College 10-9 (16-9)
West Virginia Wesleyan 9-10 (12-13)
Charleston 8-11 (14-11)
Glenville State 8-11 (11-12)
Urbana 5-14 (10-15)
Concord 5-14 (9-16)
Virginia Wise 5-14 (7-18)
West Virginia State 3-16 (6-19)
Atlantic Regional Ranking (Top Eight Teams Qualify for the 2017 NCAA Tournament)
1. Fairmont State
2. Shippensburg
3. Indiana (PA)
4. West Liberty
5. Kutztown
6. Wheeling Jesuit
7. Virginia Union
8. Virginia State
9. Shepherd
10. East Stroudsburg