South Euclid, Ohio -- Less than 24 hours after needing a third digit on the home half of the Murphy Gymnasium scoreboard in a 105-49 win, Notre Dame slugged their way to a 53-49 victory over Rochester (Mich.) on Saturday afternoon. (Box)

Sophomore forward #Eric Dummermuth# went 9-of-11 from the field and 5-of-7 from the free-throw line to score nearly half of NDC's 53 points (23) in the defensive struggle. With the win, Notre Dame starts their season off at 2-0, and their Saturday win came over a Rochester squad that was undefeated (6-0) coming in.

Rochester (6-1) jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the first 3:14 of the game, before a high-pressure Falcon defense held the Warriors to just eight points the rest of the period. Rochester started the game by going 4-for-5 from the floor; they went just 4-for-21 for the balance of the half.

Dummermuth scored 11 in the half and paced NDC to a 24-18 halftime lead.

In the second half, the two sides traded baskets for much of the way. Starting at the 8:50 mark, Rochester went on a 5-0 run to knot the score at 38-38. The Falcons responded with a 10-0 run that was started and ended on baskets by Eric Dummermuth.

By the 1:45 mark, Notre Dame led 48-38. The Warriors got as close as four points (at 0:23), but the Falcons' strong defense prevailed.

For the 40 minutes, NDC shot 38.3 percent (18-for-47) from the floor and 75.0 percent (15-for-20) from the line. NDC's straight-up defense was only charged with 10 personal fouls; Rochester got to the foul line just four times, making two (50.0 percent). The Warriors shot 36.4 percent (20-for-55) from the field.

Dummermuth tallied 23 points and has now scored 49 in the Falcons' first two games. The 6-foot-6 230-pounder also garnered seven rebounds in the victory.

Sophomore guard #Nick McCartney# added 11 points and five assists. Junior guard Michael Graham paced the Warriors with a 17-point, five-rebound afternoon.

Notre Dame will carry their 2-0 record into their first road test of the season in their next scheduled game. That away game, also the American Mideast Conference opener for NDC, will be at Mount Vernon Nazarene on Tuesday, Nov. 17. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m.