Concord Closes Out Homestand Versus Notre Dame, Travels to Alderson-Broaddus

Concord Stats - Notre Dame Stats - Alderson Broaddus Stats - Live Audio - Live Stats - Live Video - Complete Game Notes

ATHENS, W.Va. - The Concord University men's basketball team closes out a three-game home set when it hosts Notre Dame 7:30 p.m. Wednesday before traveling to Alderson Broaddus 4:00 p.m. Saturday in two Mountain East Conference games.

LIVE COVERAGE
Audio: Jason Reed and Steve Cox will provide live radio play-by-play radio coverage of Wednesday's game on 94.5 "Willie" FM and streaming at www.mywillie.com
Stats: Live in-game statistics will provided by the Concord University and Alderson-Broaddus Sports Information Departments. 
Video: Live streaming video will be available for Wednesday and Saturday's games

RECORDS
The Mountain Lions improved to 7-10 overall and 5-7 in the MEC with an 86-82 win over Glenville State Saturday.

Notre Dame sports a mark of 10-8 overall and is 7-5 versus MEC foes.

Alderson Broaddus is one game over .500 at 8-7 and is 5-6 versus conference teams.

FLAME THROWERS
Due to Covid-19 protocols, CU was forced to play with just seven players last week against Charleston and Glenville State. The Mountain Lions shot a 20-minute, season-best 55.1 percent against UC before wearing out in a loss to the Golden Eagles. However, Concord was able to keep the momentum into the second half versus GSC as it hit on 53.5 percent in the first half and kicked it up to 57.1 percent—a new season-high for a half—in the four-point win. The Maroon and Gray got a career-best 25 points from junior forward Jevon Laidler as he connected on a career-high four three-pointers and shot 9-for-13 from the floor. Freshman forward Amare Smith was an efficient 5-for-7 shooting as he tallied double figures for the second straight game in his second consecutive start. And sophomore guard Cade Fix came off the bench to can all four of his three-point attempts. Fix is the first Concord player with four made three-pointers without a miss since David Mulumba against Wheeling two seasons ago when he was a perfect 8-of-8 from the field and 4-of-4 from beyond the arc.

MATCHUP MATT
Fifth-year senior guard Matt Weir supplied Concord with his second double-double of the year in Concord's win over Glenville State as he posted 22 points and 11 assists while not committing a turnover. Weir becomes just one of two players in the MEC with at least two double-doubles this season with assists, joining Glenville State's Nick Edwards and Davis & Elkins' Sam Rolle. Weir previously had 11 points and 11 assists versus Saint Michael's. Weir is the first CU guard with at 10 or more assists and no turnovers in a game since Michael Sanchez did so against West Liberty in an upset of the top-ranked Hilltoppers in January 2016. Weir also moved into the top 15 in Division II foul shooting this season. The Nashport, Ohio native is now at 90 percent (45-of-50) at the foul line, having made 27 of his last 28 attempts at the charity stripe.

HOME SWEET HOME
Concord trails in the all-time series against Notre Dame, 9-8. However, the road team in the series has won just three times with the Mountain Lions taking both neutral site meetings in the MEC Tournament. Wednesday night will be the first visit for NDC to the Carter Center since CU took a 79-76 victory December 7, 2019. Junior guard Ethan Heller rang in 20 points with 15 coming on a 5-of-9 showing from three-point range. And in the win, CU shot 50 percent from the floor. This season, the Mountain Lions are 6-2 at home with four of the six wins coming by five points or less, including a 75-73 win over Alderson-Broaddus on a late jumper in the lane by Weir. And speaking of those close call, Concord is 5-2 in games decided by eight points or less this season.

GRIND IT OUT
One of the two losses in tightly-contested games for CU was a 63-61 loss at Notre Dame early in the season. Despite both offenses averaging at least 77 points per game, the defenses were scrappy as neither team shot above 40 percent in the December matchup. Weir sank a career-best seven three-pointers on his way to 27 points in the narrow loss. Fifth-year senior forward Lual Daniel Rahama collected one of his three double-doubles on the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds. And CU also had a 47-35 rebounding advantage with Laidler pulling down a career-best 12 boards. Though Concord was held down to 31 percent shooting from three-point range at NDC, the Mountain Lions for the season are a 35.6 percent shooting team beyond the arc. However, Concord is coming off its most successful game of the year from three-point range as it made 14 triples and shot 56 percent (14-of-25).

ON THE DEFENSIVE
Concord and Alderson Broaddus are two of the best field-goal defenses in the MEC as the sides are tied for fourth in the league, allowing 45.8 percent to opponents. In Concord's December win, the Mountain Lions shot just 42.4 percent, but held the Battlers to 38.5 percent. And while both defenses are tough, they are particularly stingy on three-point attempts. Alderson-Broaddus is the MEC leader in three-point defense, allowing 30.7 percent. Concord is right behind in third at 31.3 percent. Earlier this season, neither team got above 25 percent from behind the arc. Overall, only six teams have shot better than 35 percent from distance on Concord this season. CU's last visit to Alderson Broaddus was an 81-59 win in November 2016 when it held AB to 43.3 percent from the floor and 17.6 percent from three-point range.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
10.1- Three-pointers made by Concord per game this season, ranking 22nd in Division II.

11- Concord outscored NDC 17-6 in second-chance points in December, the second highest margin of the year.

56- Three-point percentage for CU against Glenville State, the highest for Concord in a single game since February 2020 against West Virginia Wesleyan.

NOTRE DAME AT A GLANCE
After a 9-4 start to the season, the Falcons have lost four of their last five games with the lone win coming at home over Wheeling. NDC is basically identical on both ends of the floor as it shoots 46.4 percent, but allows teams to make 46.5 percent of its shots. Jaedon Willis is third in the MEC in scoring at 21.6, but was held to 16 points on 5-of-12 shooting by Concord. Willis' 61 made three-pointers are the most in the MEC this season. Tyland Crawford is throwing in 12.3 points per game while Michael Sampson is averaging 10.4 points and 8.6 rebounds per contest.

ALDERSON-BROADDUS AT A GLANCE
Five double-figure scorers weren't enough for the Battlers in the first meeting with Concord. KJ Walker—AB's leading scorer—is also one of the most efficient players in the MEC, shooting 58.1 percent from the field which is fourth in the conference. Jalen Collins averages 12.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per contest, and Zach Simpkins rounds out the double-digit scorers with 10.2 points per game. John Grayson is the MEC's top shot blocker with 1.5 per game. The last two wins for Alderson-Broaddus have been decided by three points or less, a 79-76 victory over Frostburg State and a 71-70 edging of Notre Dame.