SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- For a second straight game the Falcon frontcourt of #Eric Dummermuth# and #Karim McFarlane# led the way, as Notre Dame collected their 10th win of the season Monday. The Falcons defeated Algoma (Canada), 72-55, in what was day-one of the NDC Holiday Classic.

Dummermuth scored 18 points and McFarlane added 14, all in the first half. They each dominated on the glass as well; both had 11 rebounds on the night, and they combined to haul down 13 offensive boards.

The home court victory was also fueled by a solid Falcon defense, which held an opponent under 60 points for the third time this season.

The win for Notre Dame (10-4) is their second in a row. The loss for Algoma (4-7) marks the third in their last four contests. The Thunderbirds came into Monday's game off a season-long three-week layoff; AU had last played on Dec. 5.

In the first half, McFarlane spurred the Notre Dame offense with 14 points on 7-of-10 shooting. The Falcons scored a number of buckets on the strength of a solid rebounding game. NDC garnered 13 offensive boards in the opening half and closed out the period on a 10-4 run to take a 10-point (34-24) lead into their locker room at the intermission. In total rebounds for the first half, NDC out-boarded Algoma, 27-12.

In the second frame, the two teams traded baskets until the 9-minute mark. At that point, the Falcons began a decisive 14-4 run. That 10-point swing was fueled by several turnover-fast break opportunities. Several of those breaks involved senior forward #Dan Jones# at one end or the other. Jones went on to finish the game with an NDC season-high six steals and 13 points.

The 14-4 run was punctuated by a coast-to-coast steal and layup by Jones at the three-minute mark. That put the Falcons up, 67-47. A pressure Notre Dame defense diffused any hope of a Thunderbird rally as the game played out over the final minutes.

For the game, Notre Dame held Algoma to a 35.8 percent (19-for-53) mark from the field. The Thunderbirds' only significant offense came in the form of sophomore guard O'Brian Wallace (Toronto, Ont.), who poured in 21 points on the strength of five treys.

For Notre Dame, Eric Dummermuth posted his third straight double-double with his 18-point, 11-rebound performance. The 6-foot-6 freshman forward has now scored 66 points over NDC's last three contests.

Karim McFarlane, off a personal season-best 24-point performance in his last game, finished the game with 14 points, 11 boards, and a season-high six blocks.

The Falcons' win keeps them on a historic pace; their 10-4 record is the best 14-game start in program history. The Blue & White didn't earn their 10th victory last season until Jan. 26.

Thus far this season, NDC has built all of its 10-4 mark in non-league games. The Falcons have two remaining non-conference games this season (Dec. 30 – Windsor, Jan. 7 – OSU-Mansfield). Prior to this season, the program had finished above .500 in its non-conference slate just once in its history (8-7, 2004-05).

Notre Dame will close out the NDC Holiday Classic on Tuesday evening when they host Windsor (Canada). That game, between the Falcons and Lancers, will tip off at 7 p.m. That game will be preceded by Algoma and Cedarville squaring off at 5 p.m.


NOTES FROM THE NEST…

MEET THE THUNDERBIRDS: Algoma University is located in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. AU has an enrollment of 1,200. The Thunderbirds compete in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) in men's and women's basketball and in men's and women's curling.

BUCKS & CANUCKS: The NDC Holiday Classic features two Ohio squads (Notre Dame and Cedarville) and two Canadian teams (Algoma and Windsor). … The NDC-Algoma tilt Monday was preceded by Cedarville facing Windsor. An American Mideast Conference (AMC) power this season, Cedarville ran its record to 14-1 with a 77-54 victory over the Lancers (10-5).

BIG 'D':  Notre Dame allowed 24 points in the first half of Monday's game and 31 in the second.  The Falcons have now held an opponent to under 30 points 10 times this season.  Eight of those times have been in the first half of games. ... For the season, the Blue & White are allowing 66.1 points per game, and they've held foes to a 39.5 percent (350-for-885) mark from the floor. The Falcons came into the game ranked 17th in the nation in field goal defense. ... Dan Jones' six steals against Algoma mark the most for an NDC player in a single game over the last three seasons.  On the year, Jones has a team-high 26 thefts.

THE 'MON' IN THE MIDDLE:  Jamaican import Karim McFarlane collected six blocks against the Thunderbirds, the most he's had in a game since he set the NDC single-game record of nine blocks on Feb. 24, 2007, against Mount Vernon Nazarene.  For the season, the 6-foot-7 center has a team-high 19 blocks.  He is the program's all-time leader, with 171 career blocks. ... McFarlane is also closing in on 1,000 points for his career.  After Monday's tilt against Algoma, he has 916.