Taking Care Of Business! Falcons Win Overtime Thriller

The Notre Dame College Falcons got three free throws from Halil Parks with 2.6 seconds left and then played a near flawless overtime in the 97-85 overtime win over Urbana in the Grimes Center. With the win NDC improves to 5-13 and 3-9 in the MEC. While the loss drops Urbana to 3-14 and 2-10 in the MEC.
  Kyauta Taylor led six Falcons in double figures with 25 points- Halil Parks added 22- Angelo Cugini netted 19 to go along with nine rebounds- Oliver Meggins contributed 11- while both Drew Scarberry and Cole Hayes notched 10.  NDC shot 52 percent from the field- 38 percent (9-24) from the 3-point line- and- 73 percent (22-30) at the free throw line.  NDC had 11 assists and 11 turnovers.
  Urbana was led by Ethan Snapp with 18 points- Carlas Jackson scored 16- Roy Hatchett had 14- and- Malik Jacobs tallied 11. The Blue Knights shot 43 percent from the field- 56 percent (10-18) at the free throw line- and- edged NDC on the boards 41-40. Urbana had 16 assists and 12 turnovers.
  Urbana scored the first bucket of the game and then the Falcons went on a 12-2 run to lead 12-4 at the first media timeout after the first of Taylor's seven 3-pointers on the day. It was a two point game (23-21) midway thru the opening half. NDC would be back up double digits (38-28) after a Cugini layup at the 3:38 mark of the half. The Falcons would eventually take a 44-37 lead into the locker room.
  Taylor had 14 points and Cugini 13 to lead NDC in the first 20 minutes. NDC shot 65 percent from the field in the first half. They shot 55 percent (6-11) from the 3-point line.  The Falcons shot 57 percent (4-7) at the free throw line.  Each team had 15 rebounds in the half. NDC had seven assists and six turnovers.
  Roy Hatchett had 12 and Carlas Jackson 11 to lead Urbana in the opening half. The Blue Knights shot 46 percent from the field- 40 percent (6-15) from the 3-point line- and- 25 percent (1-4) at the free throw line.  The Blue Knights had eight assists and five turnovers in the half.
  The Falcons would stretch the lead to 11 early in the second half. After a Megins free throw NDC held a 12 point lead (56-44) with under 15 minutes to go. The Blue Knights would go on a 8-0 run before a Parks layup made it 58-52 NDC at the 11:48 mark. NDC would get another 3-pointer from Taylor at the 6:06 mark that would make it 74-65. Urbana would retake the lead 78-76 after a 3-pointer by Carlas Jackson with 2:21 in regulation. Urbana would score the next basket and then the Falcons got a free throw by Cugini and a layup with 55 seconds to cut the lead to one (80-79.)  After two Hatchett free throws put Urbana back up three with 13 seconds NDC got the ball back. Parks was fouled on a 3-point attempt and drained all three free throws to knot the game at 82. Urbana had a chance to win it but the 3-pointer did not go and we went to overtime.
 Taylor hit a 3-pointer to set the tone for the overtime and silenced the crowd in the process. NDC would lead by 12 (94-82) before Urbana scored it''s only basket of the overtime. Then the Falcons iced the win at the free throw line.
  KT Taylor talked about his mindset in this one and the role Parks played in this win:
" I tried to be as aggressive as I could because I hurt my wrist earlier and got kneed in the thigh so I couldn't really drive but I got my shot going a little bit. The main thing was just playing our game. We got down late and did not hang our heads. We just kept grinding it out. HP (Parks) was big for us today, he won us that game but everyone contributed to the win. It just feels good to get in the win column. I think we can carry this momentum into the next game. " Taylor said."
Coach Tim Koenig spoke about the games he got from all his guys but particularly Cole Hayes and Parks:
" Cole did a great job of attacking and got some layups and dunks against some heavy ball pressure. HP was big as well, but everyone contributed in this one. I am really proud of these guys and it was a great win for them. HP's free throws were huge obviously. " Koenig said."
  Parks talked about the game Taylor had and what was going thru his mind when he was at the free throw line at the end of regulation:
" KT contributed all the way thru the game today. He always has his foot on the pedal and we need that from him every night. He plays a big role in energy not just on offense but defense as well. He just knows how to play the game with discipline and passion. I know he will show up to play every game like it is his last." Parks said."
Parks added:
" When I stepped to the line for the free throws I knew what had to be done. I have been in the same scenario in basketball games many times. Tonight was just one of those moments for me. I often try to stay calm, cool and collected in those moments. I had no doubt in my mind I was going to make all three free throws with all the confidence I have in myself and my teammates have in me. I knew we worked way too hard in that game to let that win slip away. I told them we aint done with this game yet, so I knocked down the free throws and got ready for overtime." Parks said."
 On the defensive effort tonight:
" Again tonight was one of our best defensive games. Guys were flying all over the place, being in help defense, and all things it took to help get stops. We were just playing the game like a team on both ends of the court and it was very fun to be a part of. " Parks said."
 NDC will be back in action Wednesday when they host West Virginia State. Tip time is 730 PM at Murphy Gym and you can catch all the action on NotreDameFalcons.com
Other MEC Scores:
Fairmont State 81 Shepherd 66
West Liberty 81 Wheeling Jesuit 78
West Virginia State 83 Charleston 82
Glenville State 71 West Virginia Wesleyan 65
Concord 80 Virginia Wise 77
MEC Standings:
West Liberty 12-0 (17-0)
Wheeling Jesuit 10-2 (14-3)
Fairmont State 10-2 (14-4)
West Virginia State 8-4 (10-7)
Shepherd 7-5 (11-7)
Charleston 6-6 (10-8)
Concord 6-6 (9-8)
Virginia Wise 4-8 (6-12)
NDC 3-9 (5-13)
Glenville State 2-10 (3-14)
Urbana 2-10 (3-14)
West Virginia Wesleyan 2-10 (2-16)