SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- Notre Dame lost for a third consecutive time Friday, dropping a 65-64 decision at home to the Highlanders of Houghton College (N.Y.). The Highlanders hit 11 treys in the game and overcame a solid performance by NDC junior center #Karim McFarlane# to claim their second conference win of the season.  (Box)

Despite shooting 51.0 percent (25-for-59) for the game and out-rebounding the Highlanders, 32-23, the Falcons lost a third straight American Mideast Conference (AMC) game.

Notre Dame (15-8, 4-3) took control of the game early, scoring the game's first 13 points. NDC had two 3-pointers and a dunk in the first 120 seconds of action. It wasn't until 16:26 that the Highlanders (6-12, 2-5) got on the board with a trey of their own.

At 11:19, Notre Dame still led, 22-10, but back-to-back 3-pointers by sophomore guard Ryan Shay cut the NDC lead to six. Those treys were part of an 11-2 run for Houghton; that stretch brought HC within three (24-21). The Falcons would rebuild the lead back to seven, but the Highlanders closed out the half with a 15-8 run to take a 36-32 halftime lead into their locker room.

Both teams shot the ball well in the opening frame; NDC shot 52.0 percent (13-for-25) from the floor and 55.6 percent (5-for-9) from beyond the arc. Houghton shot 53.6 percent (15-for-28) and 50.0 percent (6-for-12), respectively. Senior forward #Dan Jones# led all scorers in the first half, with 11 points on 4-of-4 shooting.

In the second, Houghton extended their lead to 10 points (43-33) by the 17:41 mark. The two sides then traded hoops until NDC started a 12-2 run on a layup by Karim McFarlane at 9:53. The Falcons' 6-foot-7 pivot man, who was honored pregame for scoring his 1,000th point last week (Jan. 20) at Mount Vernon, scored six points in the run, which brought the Falcons to with one (63-62) at 0:53.

That's as close as NDC would come. Down three (65-62) with time running out, freshman guard #Nick McCartney# leaned in on the HC perimeter defense and drained a long-range shot. In leaning in, however, McCartney stepped over the 3-point arc, making his field goal a 2-pointer. Houghton was able to inbound the ball with two seconds to seal the one-point victory on the road.

For the game, the Highlanders shot 49.1 percent (26-for-53) from the field and 47.8 percent (11-for-23) from 3-point range. Houghton forced 13 turnovers, while committing just eight of their own. Junior forward Yannick Anzuluni tallied 19 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and four steals to lead the Highlanders, who ended a nine-game drought against NDC with the win. Before Friday, Houghton last beat Notre Dame on Jan. 13, 2004.

McFarlane had a similar night to Anzuluni's; the Falcon big man scored 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting. He also garnered 10 boards, four assists, and four blocks. Four other Falcons (#Eric Dummermuth#, Jones, and #Steve Savel#) finished in double-figures.

The loss for Notre Dame ends a four-game home win streak; NDC hadn't lost on their home hardwood since Dec. 30.

Friday's tilt against Houghton marked the first of back-to-back home games for NDC against teams from the Empire State. The Falcons will host Daemen (N.Y.) Saturday at 4 p.m.


NOTES FROM THE NEST…

WRONG TURN: Notre Dame has lost the turnover battle in each of their last three games and in five of their last six. In that six-game stretch, the Blue & White are minus-20 in turnovers.

SERIES:  Notre Dame is now 10-6 all-time against Houghton. NDC is 6-3 against the Highlanders in South Euclid. The Falcons had won nine straight in the series going back to the 2003-04 season. … The Falcons and Highlanders first met on 12/15/01, a 101-69 victory for Houghton at home.