LAS VEGAS -- Forward #Eric Dummermuth# poured in a career-high 37 points as Notre Dame defeated Hope International (Calif.), 73-69, in overtime on Saturday. (Box)

Notre Dame (8-4) withstood a second-half rally by Hope (4-6), which would send the Falcons into their first overtime game of the season. Dummermuth and sophomore guard #Nick McCartney# combined to score 10 points in the extra frame, and NDC walked off the court at the Centennial Hills Community Center with a four-point win after having trailed by four earlier in overtime.

The victory for the Falcons snaps a four-game losing streak and it closes out Notre dame's two days of competing at the 2009 Las Vegas Hoopla tournament, which features 13 games and collegiate teams from all over the United States.

Dummermuth scored his 37 points on 10-of-18 shooting from the floor and a 16-for-23 afternoon at the free-throw line. The six-foot-6 sophomore scored his previous career best, 33 points on Dec. 2 against Malone. The Dover, Ohio, native has now posted three 30-point games this season and is averaging 24.9 per game.

On Saturday, Dummermuth scored 18 of those points in leading the Falcons to a 29-24 lead at halftime, with both teams struggling with their shots.

Both NDC and HIU shot under 32 percent in the first and both would be more effective in the second, Hope more so than Notre Dame. The Royals shot 60.9 percent (14-for-23) in the second, tying the game early in the second and then going toe-to-toe with NDC over the final 16 minutes of regulation.

In the extra frame, the Royals took a four-point lead (67-63) by the midpoint of the five-minute period. Two of Dummermuth's 23 free throws then kicked off a game-ending 10-2 run for the Falcons. McCartney also did his part, scoring the final six points of the game for the Blue & White.

For the game, Notre Dame shot 38.6 percent(22-for-57) from the field and 70.3 percent (26-for-37) from the foul line. McCartney was NDC's second-leading scorer in the game. He tallied 11 points. #Brennan Osborn# had eight points; #Will Townsend# chipped in seven points and four assists. 

The game featured 23 ties and lead changes.

“We had a great team effort,” said NDC Head Coach #Kevin Bille#. “The guys played hard and stuck together through what has been a tough stretch these last four games.” 

Hope was led by Marcellus Cullors, who scored 20 points.