Skip To Main Content
16 mbb mec semis
76
Winner Notre Dame College NDC 21-10
68
Wheeling Jesuit WJU-M 28-3
Winner
Notre Dame College NDC
21-10
76
Final
68
Wheeling Jesuit WJU-M
28-3
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Notre Dame College NDC 34 42 76
Wheeling Jesuit WJU-M 32 36 68

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Chris Myers

Gaiter Propels Notre Dame Past WJU in MEC Semifinal

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The unpredictable Mountain East Conference men's basketball tournament upsets struck Saturday night. Tyree Gaiter's 39-point explosion propelled No. 6 seed Notre Dame College to a 76-68 upset of Wheeling Jesuit in a MEC Semifinal.
 
Gaiter posted 21 first-half points and added 18 more in the second half, including the final 10 points of the game in the Falcons (21-10) win over the Cardinals (28-3).
 
"We take our hats off to Notre Dame. They played better than we did. They beat us on hustle plays and toughness plays that are so crucial in big games like this," said WJU head coach Danny Sancomb. "We did not play well enough to win."
 
The WJU loss will not end its season. Entering as the No. 1 ranked team in the NCAA Division II's Atlantic Regional, the Cardinals are expected to retain the spot. Wheeling Jesuit would then play host to the eight-team Atlantic Regional. The NCAA Division II Selection Show is set for 10:30 p.m. Sunday night, March 6.
 
"We are excited about that (chance to host)," admitted Sancomb. "Our team will bound back (from this loss). We have tough guys and we will be back on the right page."
 
The Cardinals were not the lone upset of the night in the Charleston Civic Center. In the first semifinal, No. 4 seed Concord led the majority of the night over No. 1 seed West Liberty, but it took a Rob Reed double overtime last second off-balance jumper for a 92-90 victory.
 
After the two semifinal upsets, No. 6 Notre Dame faces No. 4 Concord for the MEC Tournament title and automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament Sunday afternoon at 3:30 p.m.
 
"Our league is great top to bottom. When the three teams getting all the publicity don't even make it to the championship game, you know the league is tough," pointed out Sancomb.
 
Leading the night for WJU, Justin Fritts finished with 18 points. Eric Siefert chipped in 11 points and handed out six assists.
 
Haywood Highsmith netted 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Pat Moseh pulled down 11 boards.
 
Trailing 34-32 at half, WJU scored the opening six second-half points with five coming from Fritts for a 38-34 lead at 16:39 remaining. Siefert hit a 3-pointer 21 seconds later to add a point to the lead, 41-36.
 
The Cardinals' momentum proved to be short lived as the Falcons 13 of the next 15 points and grabbed the advantage, 49-43, at 12:13. WJU cut the difference to no less than four points, 49-45, on a Kyle Ritz layup on the next possession with 11:02 on the clock.
 
Gaiter made 10 of 15 shots from the floor. He also made all 16 of his free throws, one more attempt than the entire WJU team, while he pulled down five rebounds and had four assists.


 
-GoCards-






 
Print Friendly Version