SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- Notre Dame bounced back from their Tuesday loss to ranked Siena Heights (Mich.) with an 81-68 win over Toronto (Ont.) on Wednesday. The contest between the Falcons and Varsity Blues was the consolation game of the NDC-hosted Baymont Inn Tournament. (Box)

Sophomore forward #Eric Dummermuth# notched a double-double to lead the Falcons to just their second win in their last seven games. Dummermuth scored 27 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. After struggling with their shooting for most of the month of December, NDC connected on 50.8 percent (33-for-65) from the floor in closing out their calendar year with a home-court victory.

In the opening half of Wednesday's game, Notre Dame (9-5) was on target, hitting on 18-of-33 (54.5 percent) from the field. The Falcons opened up a seven-point lead (14-7) by the 13:51-mark, with Eric Dummermuth scoring five of NDC's first seven baskets. Toronto scored the next seven points of the game to even the score at 14-14, but Notre Dame countered with a 7-0 run of their own to go up 21-14.

With an effective combination of inside and outside scoring, the Blue & White extended their lead to double digits (33-22) by the four-minute mark. The Falcons went into halftime with a 43-29 lead and with a commanding 21-12 edge in rebounds.

In the second, got as close as nine points, but NDC's all-around offensive and defensive play sealed the win.

Guards #Nick McCartney# and #Al Miller# each scored 13 points for Notre Dame to back up Dummermuth's 27. Dummermuth went 10-of-16 from the field and 7-of-8 from the line en route to posting his seventh double-double of the season. McCartney and Miller each tallied five assists in the game.

Notre Dame out-rebounded Toronto, 43-29, with Dummermuth's 13 being a game-high.

Nick Maglas (20 points) and Nick Snow (13 points, six rebounds) led Toronto on the afternoon.

Notre Dame will pick up with their 2009-10 season on the other side of the New Year when they host another Canadian squad, Algoma (Ont.), on Tuesday, Jan. 5.


NOTES FROM THE NEST …

MEET THE VARSITY BLUES: The University of Toronto was established in 1827 and is Canada's largest university. The University has an enrollment of over 55,000 students. In athletics, Varsity Blues teams participate in two separate leagues - OUA (Ontario University Athletics) which oversees provincial university sports and CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sport) which is the body that oversees national university sporting competition in Canada. UT sponsors 46 athletic teams (23 men's, 23 women's). 

700 CLUB: With 10 rebounds over the two-day tournament at home, senior center #Karim McFarlane# has now garnered 700 for his career. McFarlane is now 35 boards away from passing Paul Benjamin (2001-05) for the al-time program lead.

IRON MEN: Both Eric Dummermuth and fellow sophomore Nick McCartney have started all 14 games for the Blue & White this season. Each is averaging over 30 MPG in playing time, and neither has missed a game in their year-plus on College Road. Dummermuth and McCartney have played in 45 straight games.