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AMHERST, N.Y. – After starting the season with eight wins in their first nine games, the Notre Dame Falcons have now last three consecutive games. The latest in that trio of defeats came Saturday afternoon in Amherst, N.Y., at the hands of the Daemen Wildcats, by a final score of 85-64.

Notre Dame (8-4) fell behind, 20-4, at the beginning of play, and a talented Daemen squad shot 60.0 percent (18-for-30) in the second half to ice the 21-point victory. Five Wildcats finished in double figures; junior guard Ajay Rutledge (Rochester, N.Y.) led the way with 22 points.

Freshman forward #Eric Dummermuth# continued what has been an excellent start to his collegiate career. The former All-Ohio selection garnered his third double-double this season with 26 points and 11 boards.

The game in Amherst was played as a non-conference tilt in the American Mideast Conference (AMC) standings. The Falcons and Wildcats will meet again this season for their conference game on Jan. 31. With the loss to Daemen, Notre Dame falls to 3-12 all-time against the Wildcats.

For the game, DC outshot NDC in the paint, at the free throw line, and from beyond the arc. The Wildcats also out-rebounded the Falcons (35-30) and won the game's turnover battle (16-8). The win for Daemen (11-2) is their fourth straight.

For the Falcons, Dummermuth's 26 points and 11 rebounds were game-highs. The only other scorer to crack double-digits for the Falcons was junior guard #Al Miller#, who tallied 13 points off the bench.

“We really are just struggling to find a rhythm,” said NDC head coach #Kevin Bille#. “We don't have multiple options on offense right now, and when you combine that with turnovers and flat play, you're going to lose.”

After the return trip from Amherst, near Buffalo, Notre Dame will have a short turnaround before their next game – the Falcons will host Waynesburg (Pa.) on Monday. The game at Murphy Gymnasium is slated for a special holiday week 4 p.m. start time.

NOTES FROM THE NEST...

DC DOES IT:  With their win Saturday, Daemen runs their overall season record to 11-2.  That's the second-best mark in the AMC (Cedarville is 12-1 this season). ... The Wildcats are now 7-1 all-time at home against NDC. ... DC tallied eight blocks in the game; they came into the contest ranked first in the AMC in blocks, with 4.82 per game.

TOP TWOS:  Eric Dummermuth's performance Saturday was a second-best for the Dover, Ohio, native on two fronts.  Dummermuth's 26 points rank as his second-best total of the season, as do his 11 boards. ... For the season, the 6-foot-6 newcomer is averaging 17.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.

TOUGH DAY:  Notre Dame's minus-eight in turnovers Saturday is their new low-water mark in a game this season.  The Falcons' 21-point margin of defeat at Daemen is also their worst this season. ... Through 12 games, NDC is averaging 72.5 points per game, while yielding 66.6.  ... The Falcons' three-loss streak is their first since February of last season (2007-08); NDC had three such streaks last season (none were extended to four games).