SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- The Notre Dame Falcons avenged their only American Mideast Conference of the season in defeating Point Park (Pa.), 91-82, in a return engagement with the Pioneers on Thursday night. (Box)

#Eric Dummermuth# (22 points) and #Al Miller# (career-high 24) combined to score 46 points in the win. They were among five Falcons to score in double figures.

With the victory on their home hardwood, NDC has now won five straight games and nine of their last 10.
Notre Dame (17-6, 9-1 AMC) came into the game alone atop the AMC North Division standings, with their only AMC loss this season coming at the hands of the Pioneers on Jan. 16 at Point Park.

With the loss on Thursday, Point Park (7-11, 3-6) is now 1-3 in four games since beating the Falcons.

The Falcons and Pioneers traded baskets through the early minutes of the first frame, with neither side wresting away control of the game until NDC went on a 14-4 run to take a 10-point lead (15-5) by the 10-minute mark.

Point Park got back into the game, getting as close as three points before Notre Dame closed out the first half with a 41-36 edge. Dummermuth tallied 11 points in the first half for the Falcons; TJ Heatherington spotted up for 13 for the Pioneers. NDC out-rebounded PPU, 27-18, over the first 20 minutes of action.

In the second frame, Notre Dame built their lead to nine (62-53) by the midpoint of the half. Al Miller had a hot hand early, pacing an efficient NDC offense - Notre Dame would shoot 53.8 percent (14-for-26) in the second. Miller had 17 second-half points to finish with 24 for the game. The senior guard has now scored 46 points over the Falcons' last two games.

Throughout the balance of the second half, NDC built their lead into double digits and then continually answered whenever Point Park scored on back-to-back possessions. In scoring 91 points against the AMC's 12th-ranked defense, NDC scored their most points in a game since Nov. 28.

Al Miller scored the largest share of those 91 points. The 6-foot guard was 5-of-12 from beyond the 3-point line as part of his career-high in points. He also garnered five assists in the game.

Eric Dummermuth scored his 22 on a 10-of-14 night. He also grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds; Notre Dame out-rebounded the Pioneers, 50-42. #Nick McCartney# scored 16 points and dished out six assists. #Karim McFarlane# scored 11 points and had a personal season-high 11 rebounds.

Heatherington led the Pioneers on the night - he scored 24 points to go along with seven assists. The freshman guard scored 21 in PPU's win over Notre Dame on Jan. 16. Center Gerald Warrick added 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Pioneers.

Thursday's AMC tilt at Murphy Gymnasium marked the finale of a four-game home stand for the Blue & White. With the win, the Falcons are 11-2 at Murphy Gymnasium this season and 49-17 (.742) on their home floor over the last three seasons (2007-10). 

The game also marked the end of a busy stretch for the Falcons - Notre Dame has played seven games since Jan. 14.

"I'm extremely proud of every guy on this team," said Head Coach #Kevin Bille#.  "Seven games in 15 days days is a tough stretch.  Our guys have been focused; they've worked hard and executed what we've asked them to do."

Notre Dame will be off this weekend and then travel to Canton, Ohio, on Tuesday, Feb. 2, to take on Malone. That game against the Pioneers kicks off a three-game road stretch for the Falcons. NDC's next home game is slated for Feb. 11. 

Notre Dame moved 3-1/2 games ahead of Malone with Thursday's victory.  "We've put ourselves in a great position," said Bille.  "But we're also aware of what lies in front of us.  The Malone road game will not be an easy task, but we'll be ready for the challenge."


NOTES FROM THE NEST …

STEAL CITY: Nick McCartney had two steals in Thursday's contest. The sophomore guard from Newton Falls, Ohio, came into the game averaging 2.1 thefts per game, which would be the second-highest single-season average in program history.

FREQUENT FOES: NDC is now 4-12 all-time against Point Park. The Pioneers had been riding a three-game winning streak in the series. NDC is 3-4 against PPU at home. … The Falcons are now an even 8-8 all-time in games against Pennsylvania schools.

JANUARY JUMP-START: The Falcons are now 24-8 (.750) in their last 32 games during the month of January (2006-09).

THREE-FOR-ALL: The game between the Falcons and Pioneers featured 54 attempts from beyond the arc. NDC went 8-of-23 (34.8 percent); PPU went 7-of-31 (22.6 percent).