Solid Effort Not Enough For NDC.

The Notre Dame College Falcons and Shepherd Rams treated everyone in Murphy Gym to a heck of a basketball game Thursday night. Ultimately it was the Rams who came away with the 94-91 win.
NDC coach Tim Koenig spoke about the contest:
" What did you guys think? Was that a good game? It was a solid effort by our guys especially on the offensive end." Koenig said."
 "We moved the ball well tonight. We had a couple of turnovers that turned into run-outs. One in particular that resulted in a right wing 3-pointer by Steffen Davis. McKnight really hurt us off the bench, but you can not take everything away from those guys. That is a really good team. They have won six in a row for a reason." Koenig said.
 Shepherd (9-6 5-4 MEC) had five players score in double figures in the game. McKnight led the way with 23 points in 23 minutes of action. Thomas Lang scored 16- Davis added 15- and- AJ Carr as well as Winston Burgess netted 13 points each.
 The Rams shot 56 percent as a team- 47 percent (15-32) from the 3-point line- and- 82 percent (9-11) at the free throw line.  The Rams had 20 assists and just six turnovers in the victory.
  NDC was led by Kyauta Taylor who drained six 3-pointers to score a game high 24 points- Levi Frankland added 16 of his 18 in the opening half- while Halil Parks had 14.  Angelo Cugini scored 13 and Oliver Megins added 12 in the losing effort.
  The Falcons shot 54 percent as a team- 46 percent (18-39) from the 3-point line.  The Falcons shot 78 percent (7-9) at the free throw line.  The Falcons won the rebounding battle 30-28.  They had 15 assists and 11 turnovers.
 NDC got off to a solid start in this one and led by six (15-9) at the first media time out.  The lead would be trimmed to two midway thru the opening stanza.  The Rams would then go on a run and lead by five (37-32) with 5:50 in the half.  At the half the Falcons would trail 49-48 after a Taylor basket late.  NDC was led by Frankland who knocked down five 3-pointer's and scored 16 points in the opening stanza. Taylor added 13.   The Falcons shot 58 percent in the opening half. This included shooting 50 percent (11-22) from the 3-point line.  They were just one of two at the free throw line.
 McKnight had 14 to lead the Rams in the opening 20 minutes. Burgess and Thomas Lang would add nine points each. The Rams shot 56 percent in the opening half- 47 percent (7-15) from the 3-point line.  They shot 80 percent (4-5) from the free throw line.
   The Rams would stretch the lead to seven (62-55) early in the second half after a Carr lay-up at the 14:39 mark.  NDC would pull to within two (67-65) after a Cole Hayes 3-pointer with 12:34 to go.  After NDC trimmed the lead to two once again the Rams would go back up seven (81-74) after a Davis 3-pointer at the 7:45 mark.  Down eight with 6:26 to go the Falcons would switch to a zone defense. After back to back 3-pointer's by Taylor NDC trailed 84-82 with 4:59 to go.  The Rams would go back up seven (91-84) with 2:39 to go before the Falcons answered.  A 3-pointer by Megins and a Parks hoop would cut the lead to 91-89 with 1:13 to go.  McKnight would split a pair of free throws and NDC would have a chance to tie it as for the second straight game Drew Scarberry was fouled on a 3-point attempt. This time with six seconds left and down three. Scarberry hit the first two but the third did not fall. Carr would make a pair for the Rams and NDC would have one last chance.
Koenig took you into the huddle:
" It is our side out of bounds play. We have run it and won a few games with the play. KT is the first option- then Drew is the second option- and- Oliie the third option. We won the game Saturday against Wesleyan with the same play. We won a game last year against Saint Augustine. We have had a lot of success with this play. " Koenig said."
  Taylor would get a look at the 3-pointer but it would be off the mark and NDC would fall.
" We really don't have much margin for error. We just needed one or two more stops to win this game, maybe one or two more made shots. We will get better. Our team is improving. " Koenig said."
NDC will be back in action Saturday when they take on Fairmont State at Murphy Gym. Tip time is set for 4 PM. You can catch all the action on NotreDameFalcons.com