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16 mbb fritts wvw open
Justin Fritts (22) pumped in a WJU-best 23 points at NDC
75
Winner WJU-M WJU-M 27-1, 20-1 MEC
55
NOTRE DAME COLLEGE NDC-M 17-8, 11-10 MEC
Winner
WJU-M WJU-M
27-1, 20-1 MEC
75
Final
55
NOTRE DAME COLLEGE NDC-M
17-8, 11-10 MEC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
WJU-M WJU-M 38 37 75
NOTRE DAME COLLEGE NDC-M 30 25 55

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Chris Myers

Cardinals Pass First Test as No. 1, Limit Falcons to Season-Low Point Total

SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – The first test was passed. The Wheeling Jesuit men's basketball team prevailed in its first contest as the No. 1 team in school history, 75-55, Thursday night by limiting Notre Dame College to a season-low point total.
 
The top-ranked Cardinals (27-1) used a 24-4 run over an 11-minute span starting six minutes into second-half for a 70-48 margin. WJU held Notre Dame College (17-8/11-10 Mountain East Conference) to only nine points in the final nine minutes of action and 11 points less than any game all season by the home team. 
 
"We played great team defense tonight," pointed out WJU head coach Danny Sancomb. "Justin (Fritts) was great on the offensive end. We did a nice job on the glass led by Eric (Siefert). It was a nice win."
 
The WJU win sets up the much-anticipated No. 1 versus No. 2 Saturday matchup. The Cardinals have a 20-1 MEC record and one-game lead over No. 2 West Liberty (25-2/19-2 MEC). The Ohio Valley rivalry contest is slated for a 4 p.m. Tip-off, and can be seen on American Sports Network, MetroNews and NCAA.com.
 
Fritts provided his instant offense off the bench. The senior drilled a trio of first-half 3-pointers and 13 points. He added 10 more second-half tallies for 23 points on the night on 9 of 16 from the floor and 5 of 9 from long-range.
 
Siefert posted his second double-double of 13 points and a career-high 15 rebounds, 10 defensive. The point guard completed his all-around night with six assists, two blocked shots and two steals.
 
The WJU defense held Notre Dame College to 9 of 29 from the floor in the second half. The Cardinals also outrebounded the Falcons, 52-43. The visitors also held the MEC's second-leading scorer Tyree Gaither to only 10 points.
 
Haywood Highsmith was a big part of the second-half explosion with nine points and six rebounds. The sophomore forward finished with 11 points on 5 of 9 shooting and eight boards. Kyle Ritz added 10 points, five rebounds and three assists on the inside.
 
Sancomb stressed, "Matt (Stewart), Tim (Goff) and Chase (Lawson) did a nice job off the bench."
 
Off the bench, Stewart, Goff and Lawson combined for 12 points and eight rebounds in the win.
 
Notre Dame College's Will Vorhees led it with 20 points and seven rebounds.
 
Leading 20-19 midway through the first half, WJU netted the next seven points, which included a Goff trey for a 27-19 advantage. The Cardinals maintained the cushion until they had a 38-30 intermission lead.
 
The Falcons started the second half by pulling to within three points, 42-39. The Atlantic Region's top team took control from there. With 14 minutes left, WJU went on to net 24 of the next 28 points in an 11-minute period of time and pulled away for the victory.


 
-GoCards-





 
 
 
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