WHEELING, W.Va. – On Saturday, Notre Dame College fell behind early in their contest with Wheeling University, as the Cardinals shot over 50-percent for much of the game. Notre Dame did have four players score in double-digits, but fell to Wheeling, 89-58.
Wheeling scored nine points in the first three minutes of the game while the Falcons' senior
Larenz Thurman made the only shot for Notre Dame in that time. Wheeling then pushed their lead to double-digits, 17-6, with 13:02 remaining in the half, after Jordan Reid knocked down two free throws. Thurman came through again as he scored a bucket to trim the deficit to nine points.
In the final minute of the first half, NDC took some momentum into the locker room as they went on a 4-2 run. Freshman
Bryce Douglas knocked down a shot and junior
Dae John Walker-Bey hit two free throws. After 20 minutes of the play, WU led, 48-24.
The Falcons trimmed the lead to 20 points, 51-31, after sophomore
Levi Frankland made a three pointer, with 18:18 on the clock. That would be as close as they would get the rest of the way.
Senior
Bruce Hodges III came into the second half with three fouls, but began to get it going before fouling out. He recorded two rebounds and two assists in the second stanza before picking up his fifth foul with 8:13 remaining in the second half.
With Hodges in foul trouble, Douglas stepped up off the bench, playing 28 minutes and leading the team with 13 points, on 5-of-8 shooting. Walker-Bey had 11 points and a season-high 12 rebounds. NDC shot 40-percent and 27-percent from three point land.
Wheeling had five players score in double-digits. Reid had 16 points, six rebounds, four assists and five steals. He also went 9-for-9 from the free throw stripe. The Cardinals shot 52-percent in the game, including 53-percent in the first half. They went 10-for-23 (44-percent) from three. WU had 18 points off turnovers, 11 second chance points and 40 points in the paint.
The Falcons will play No. 16 West Liberty University, in West Liberty, W.Va., on November 23. The game is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.
