That Stings! Slow Start Dooms Falcons Wednesday.

The Notre Dame College Falcons got off to a slow start, fell behind by 23 points and ultimately fell 98-88 against West Virginia State at the Walker Convocation Center. With the loss NDC fell to 3-6 overall and 1-4 in the MEC. With the victory West Virginia State improved to 5-4 overall and 3-2 in the MEC.
The Yellow Jackets had five players score in double figures in the win.  Ernest Jenkins scored 19 of his 21 in the opening half.  Tim Koenig spoke of how that happened:
"Jenkins got some wide open looks in the first half. We did not execute well defensively. We missed some assignment especially on Jenkins." Koenig said.
  Pat Johnson- Agwu had 20- Jeremiah Moore added 15- Langston Cooke had 12- and- Isiah Noel 10 for the Yellow Jackets.  They shot 55 percent as a team in the game. 61 percent in the first half- 41 percent from the 3-point line (60 percent in the opening half-) and- 85 percent (11-13) from the free throw line. This included making all five free throw attempts in the opening stanza.  They had 24 assists and 13 turnovers as a team. The Yellow Jackets won the battle of the boards 37-31.
  Kyauta Taylor led four Falcons in double figures in the loss. Taylor scored 25 points Wednesday- Angelo Cugini and Halil Parks added 18 points each- while Drew Scarberry had 13.  The Falcons shot 46 percent from the field in the game. They shot 31 percent (8-26) from the 3-point line- 79 percent (26-33) from the free throw line.  They had 18 assists and 14 turnovers as a team.
  The first half saw the game knotted at 14 after the first media timeout.  The Yellow Jackets would then open up a 10-point lead (26-16) at the 11:03 mark of the opening half.  The lead would be 17 (46-29) at the 3:57 mark of the opening half.  That lead would grow to 23 (58-35) at the break.
Drew Scarberry commented on the opening half from a NDC standpoint:
" We didn't execute very well coming out of the gate. We had bad ball movement in the half court and we didn't execute the offense very well. Defensively. we gave up too much penetration and they really boarded the ball against us.
Koenig agreed:
" We did not execute well in the first half both offensively and defensively.  We have to be mentally ready to start the game from the opening tip.  We forced some shots and turned the ball over too much in the opening half." Koenig said."
  The lead would still be 23 (72-49) for the Yellow Jackets before NDC would get to within 16 after a pair of Parks free throws capped a 7-0 run at the 11:24 mark.  NDC would get to within eight (88-80) after a Scarberry dunk at the 2:47 mark.  The Falcons would get to within seven twice, but that is as close as they would get and they would drop a third straight.
  Scarberry spoke about the second half being a lot better than the first:
" We did a much better job coming out in the second half and cutting into the lead.  We moved the ball well and really got up and down the floor." Scarberry said.
  Scarberry spoke about the solid game teammate Cugini put together tonight:
"Angelo did a great job tonight of getting a mismatch and being able to score or draw defenders and kicking it out. " Scarberry said."
  Scarberry spoke a little about his changed role on this team after the injuries that have hurt this team this season:
" I have to take on more of a consistent role and I have to be able to log more minutes.  I need to be a leader out on the court. We just have to keep fighting and playing our game.  We can still compete with any team in the conference. Scarberry said."
  Koenig spoke of the hole the team dug in the first half and going deeper into his bench:
" When we fall behind by 20+ points you try anything to get a spark. Some moves made tonight worked really well. Others did not so much." Koenig said."
"When you are that far behind you have no margin for error." Koenig said."
  Koenig spoke about having Parks back after his injury:
" West Virginia State overplayed everything. Halil did a good job of getting to the basket and making layups. He is another playmaker and we are definitely glad to have him back.  He also gave us a defensive spark tonight as well." Koenig said."
Koenig also spoke briefly about KT Taylor and the added pressure on him with the injuries this season:
"This is nothing new for KT. He has been one of our go to guys since he came here his freshman year.  Both offensively and defensively. KT will always be one of our leaders both on and off the court. "Koenig said."
  NDC will return home Saturday to face Charleston. Tip time at Murphy Gym is set for 4 PM. You can catch all the action on NotreDameFalcons.com