SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- Notre Dame snapped their three-game losing streak Monday, with a 99-71 win at home over Waynesburg (Pa.). The victory was fueled by the Falcon frontcourt of freshman forward #Eric Dummermuth# and junior center #Karim McFarlane#, who combined to score 46 points in the game.
The Notre Dame (9-4) offense, which had struggled in their three previous games, was in sync, scoring 53 points in the first half and 46 points in the second. For the game, McFarlane scored 24 points and Dummermuth added 22. Dummermuth also had a game-high 14 rebounds.
In the opening half, both offenses clicked early, with Notre Dame taking control by the mid-point of the period. After falling behind, 7-5, in the opening minutes, Notre Dame went on a 17-4 run to claim a 22-11 lead by the 12:40 mark. That run was capped by a fast-break alley-oop from senior forward #Dan Jones# to Dummermuth.
McFarlane was also effective early. The Falcons' 6-foot-7 pivot man scored from both blocks and in the middle of the lane with an array of moves against the Yellow Jacket frontcourt. Of NDC's first 26 points, McFarlane and Dummermuth accounted for 19, with the Falcons connecting on 11 of their first 17 shot attempts.
By the 8:14 mark, when freshman guard #Nick McCartney# drilled a trey from the left wing, the Blue & White had established a 17-point lead (34-17).
Notre Dame went on to shoot 56.8 percent (21-for-37) in the first, in opening a 53-34 halftime lead. The Falcons' 51 first half points mark the most they've scored in an opening half since NDC tallied 57 against OSU-Lima on Nov. 15. McFarlane scored 20 of those points to lead the team in the first, and NDC out-rebounded Waynesburg, 24-10.
In the second frame, Notre Dame extended their lead to 25 points by the 15-minute mark. The NDC starting five continued to fire on all cylinders in the second, with all five contributing to a well-run offense. Notre Dame cruised, never allowing Waynesburg to get closer than 23 points.
The final winning margin (28 points) turned out to be NDC's second-largest of the season (NDC beat OSU-Lima, 99-59, on Nov. 15).
For the 40 minutes, the Falcons shot 51.4 percent (36-for-70). They out-rebounded Waynesburg, 51-26, and won the turnover battle, 15-11. The Blue & White also dished out 24 assists in the game.
Dummermuth and McFarlane shot a combined 18-of-29 from the field. Their tandem performance was backed up by Nick McCartney, who garnered 15 points and six assists. Freshman guard #Steve Savel# added 10 points and nine boards. NDC's plus-25 on the glass marks a season high and their best rebounding margin over the last three seasons.
The win on their Murphy Gymnasium hardwood runs the Falcons' home record this season to 4-1. Waynesburg falls to 1-4 on the road; the Yellow Jackets have now lost three of their last four.
Notre Dame will close out their 2008 calendar year with three games between Christmas and New Year's Days. NDC will be at Cleveland State on Saturday, Dec. 27, for a 1 p.m. exhibition game against the Vikings. The Falcons will then host a two-day tournament, the NDC Holiday Classic, on Dec. 29-30.
After the first of the year, Notre Dame will get into their American Mideast Conference (AMC) slate. 13 of their final 14 regular season games will be AMC affairs. The first of those conference games is scheduled for Jan. 3, at Roberts Wesleyan (N.Y.).
NOTES FROM THE NEST…
FAMILY AFFAIR: Kevin Bille scripted a game plan to stop Waynesburg Monday. But there may have been one player on the Yellow Jacket roster the Falcons' seventh-year head coach wasn't exactly rooting against. Bille is cousins with WU freshman guard Lukas Baker (Washington, Pa.). Baker played six minutes in the game.
SERIES: With their win Monday, the Falcons take the lead (3-2) in the all-time series with the Yellow Jackets. Notre Dame and Waynesburg had met four times previously, with each team winning two games. NDC is now 3-0 against the Yellow Jackets at home (2003, 2005, 2008).
BIG MAC: Karim McFarlane's 24 points Monday are his most in a single game since Jan. 27, 2007, when he tallied 25 in a game against Houghton (N.Y.). McFarlane came into the contest averaging 10.8 points per game.
