Box Score
SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- The Notre Dame College men's basketball team pulled away with a 75-70 win over the previously undefeated Charleston Golden Eagles in a Mountain East Conference showdown on Saturday afternoon in Murphy Gym.

NDC was led by 22 points and eight rebounds from Will Vorhees while Kyauta Taylor recorded 19 points and seven rebounds for NDC.

The Falcons (6-2 overall, 2-2 Mountain East) jumped out to a commanding lead early in the game, taking a 16-4 lead at the 13:48 mark of the first half. NDC continued the hot start by extending the lead to 23-7 eight minutes into the game.

With 7:22 remaining before halftime, the Falcons pushed their lead to 17 points, 32-15, over the Golden Eagles following a dunk from Nathan Kellum, assisted by Ja'Sean Lewis.

However, the undefeated Golden Eagles responded with a run of their own. UC went on a 16-4 run, cutting the Falcons' lead to just five, 36-31, with 3:29 left in the half. Despite the hot start from the Falcons, the Golden Eagles continued to cut into the Falcons' lead, and eventually took a 39-38 lead at halftime over NDC.

In the second half, Charleston opened a 10-4 run to push its lead to 49-42, forcing a timeout from the Falcons. Out of the timeout, an and-one play from Will Vorhees cut the deficit to just four, 49-45, with 13:50 remaining.

After UC scored again and pushed its lead back to six, 51-45, the Falcons responded with an 8-3 run - keyed by two Oliver Megins 3-pointers - to cut the deficit to just one, 54-53. Kyauta Taylor then drained a pair of free throws to give the Falcons the lead again, 55-54, with 9:51 left in the game.

Both teams traded baskets over the next few minutes, and a lay-up from Megins gave the Falcons a 65-64 lead with 4:48 to go in the game.

With 2:15 remaining in the game, Kellum came up big once again for the Falcons with a put-back lay-up to give the Falcons a 71-66 lead over Charleston. The Golden Eagles then scored a bucket of their own, cutting NDC's lead to 71-68, and forced a defensive stop before calling a timeout with 1:27 remaining.

Out of the UC timeout, the Falcons again forced a much-needed defensive stop, and NDC called a timeout of its own with 1:08 remaining and a 71-68 lead. Charleston netted a lay-up with 24 seconds remaining to cut the Falcons' lead to just one again, 71-70, prompting another timeout on the floor.

With the Falcons on offense, Charleston quickly fouled Kobie Johnson to send him to the free throw line with 20 seconds remaining. Johnson proved clutch, draining both free throws to push NDC's lead back to three, 73-70.

The Falcons forced a pair of missed shots on the ensuing possession, and Megins reeled in the rebound and was fouled with just 3.2 seconds remaining. Megins made both free throws, icing the game and securing the 75-70 win for the Falcons.

With the win, the Falcons improve to 6-2 overall, including a 2-2 mark against MEC competition.

NDC returns to action on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at home against the Edinboro Fighting Scots in non-conference action. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 pm in Murphy Gym.