The Fairmont State men's basketball team is set to continue its conference slate on Wednesday (Jan. 4) with a home game versus Alderson Broaddus at 7:30 p.m. The Fighting Falcons finish the week at Notre Dame (Ohio) on Saturday (Jan. 7) at 4 p.m.
 
Fighting Falcons Facts

• Last time out, Fairmont State controlled the game at No. 19-ranked Virginia Union and led for over 35 minutes of game time. The Panthers escaped with a win in overtime. Briggs Parris led Fairmont State with 15 points in his return to the hardwood.
• The Fairmont State high-powered offense ranks fourth in the nation in scoring (92.3 points per game) and three-pointers made per game (11.6). The Fighting Falcons lead the Mountain East Conference in four offensive categories: field goal percentage (49.4%), free throw percentage (77.1%), rebound margin (3.9), and three-point percentage (40.3%).
• Isaiah Sanders' 44 three-point baskets rank eighth in the country and lead the MEC. The Fighting Falcons' leading scorer (17.8 points per game) has made 47.8% of his three-point attempts this season. He scored his 2,000^th career point on Dec. 10 versus Glenville State and surpassed Glen Abram of West Virginia State on the MEC career points leaderboard. Sanders needs one point to rank third in conference history and is behind Tommy Bolte on the leaderboard.
• Center Tariq Woody has started his season shooting 68.8% from the field, which is the third-highest average out of all Division II players. The Canton, Mich. native has made 61 field goals on 88 attempts and averages 11.0 points per game.
• Two Fairmont State players, Zyon Dobbs and Fonz Hale, have dished out over 50 assists each in the team's first 12 games. Dobbs has passed 56 assists, while Hale has contributed 55 assists. Dobbs has averaged 10.7 points per game, while Hale has made 23 three-point buckets and averages 13.3 points per game.
• George Mangas has grabbed a team-leading 31 offensive rebounds and 66 total rebounds. Mangas has averaged 12.9 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game.
• Seth Younkin has tracked down 5.8 rebounds per game in 10 contests, which is the top rebounding average for the team. Younkin swatted a season-high five blocks at Virginia Union and leads Fairmont State with 14 blocks.
• Freshman David Jolinder has averaged above double figures in his first collegiate campaign (10.1 points per game).
• Tim Koenig is currently in his fourth season leading Fairmont State men's basketball and in his 10^th as a head coach. Koenig has won 162 career games as a head coach, which included a six-year stint at Notre Dame (Ohio).

Scouting Alderson Broaddus
The Battlers have won two of their last three games after defeating West Virginia Wesleyan on Dec. 7 and Salem on Dec. 15. AB begins this week with a 3-7 overall record and a 2-4 conference record.
 
Five Battlers average more than 10 points per game, with Zach Simpkins leading the way with 13.8 points per game. Jalen Collins has tracked down 45 rebounds, which leads AB. Coryon Rice checks in third in the MEC with 28 steals and has passed 34 assists.
 
Since the 2020-21 season, Fairmont State has won all four matchups versus AB, with Fairmont State winning at home 80-76 in the last meeting on Feb. 12, 2022.
 
The Battlers are led by Stephen Dye, who was previously the head men's basketball coach at Glenville State from 2009-2018. Dye guided the Pioneers to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances during his time in Glenville.
 
Scouting Notre Dame (Ohio)
Notre Dame (Ohio) ended 2022 on a four-game winning streak and improved its overall record to 7-4 and MEC mark to 4-2 before the new year.
 
In series history, Fairmont State has won 16 of the last 22 matchups versus NDC. Notre Dame (Ohio) has held serve in South Euclid and has claimed the last four games played in Ohio versus the Fighting Falcons. Fairmont State posted a 2-1 record versus NDC after winning games inside Joe Retton Arena and at the conference tournament. NDC picked up a 78-73 win in Ohio on Feb. 9, 2022.
 
The Falcons have had a strong start to the season defensively and lead the MEC in field goal percentage defense, defensive rebounds, scoring defense and three-point percentage defense. Leading the defensive rebounding effort is Andre Harris, who has secured 52 rebounds from the defensive end and 66 total rebounds. On the offensive end, Baltimore, Md. guard Jaedon Willis is averaging 20.2 points per game in his senior season. Willis has made 26 shots from beyond the arc and is the second-highest scorer in the MEC. Willis was selected All-MEC First Team for the 2021-22 season.
 
Mark Richmond is the head coach of NDC men's basketball. Richmond has led the Falcons to a MEC Tournament berth in all three seasons leading the squad.

Up Next
Fairmont State continues MEC play next week with a road game at Wheeling on Jan. 11 and a home game versus West Liberty on Jan. 14.