CANTON, Ohio -- Junior guard Kyle Higgins hit back-to-back 3-pointers in the last two minutes, vaulting Malone to a hard-fought 56-55 win over Notre Dame on Tuesday. (Box)

The American Mideast Conference tilt featured the top two teams in the AMC North, with first-place Notre Dame (17-7, 9-2 AMC) coming into the game on a five-game winning streak and second-place Malone (11-12, 7-4) on a six-game unbeaten streak. The Falcons fought back to take a late lead after having trailed throughout much of the game, but Higgins' threes proved to be decisive in the low-scoring affair.

NDC was paced by sophomore forward #Eric Dummermuth#, who collected the 30th double-double of his career with a 17-point, 14-rebound night. Fellow sophomore #Nick McCartney# added 14 points in what was the Falcons' lowest-scoring game since Nov. 21.

Malone used an early 9-0 run to go up 14-4 by the 13:49-mark in the first. For the next 10 minutes-plus, the Falcons and Pioneers traded baskets. A late 6-1 run at end the opening frame would bring Notre Dame to within five (27-22) at halftime.

The low-scoring first half featured just 15 total field goals (nine for MU and six for NDC). Notre Dame shot just 26.1 percent (6-for-23) in the first half.

Coming out of halftime, NDC was unable to gets its offense on track, and the host Pioneers extended their lead back to 10 (43-33) by the 11-minute mark. The Falcons then scored the next 10 points of the game - with Eric Dummermuth scoring six - to tie the game, 43-43, at the 6:47-mark. NDC eventually took a 49-45 lead, having gone on a 16-2 run from 11:00 to 4:05.

The Blue & White clung to their lead until a three-ball by Malone's Kyle Higgins tied the game, 53-53, at 2:02. Less than a minute later, Higgins drilled another trey to give the Pioneers a three-point lead (56-53), a lead which Malone would not relinquish the rest of the way.

After an #Al Miller# jumper got the Falcons to within one, NDC had the ball for a final shot with a chance to win the game, but Nick McCartney missed a jump shot as time expired.

Miller finished with 13 points for Notre Dame. Dummermuth scored his 17 on a 5-of-12 night from the floor to go with a 7-of-10 performance at the line. The 6-foot-6 forward has now posted double-doubles in four straight games and in 10 of his last 11. Dummermuth has 16 such games on the season, after posting 14 double-doubles a year ago as a freshman.

Both teams hounded one another on defense. Notre Dame shot just 33.3 percent (18-for-48) for the game, while Malone shot 34.5 percent (20-for-58). NDC out-rebounded MU, 40-35, with Dummermuth pulling down a game-high with his 14 boards. #Phil Biggs# added seven.

Higgins finished with 12 points for the Pioneers, who kept themselves in the North Division race with the crucial home-court win. Eric Coblentz led MU in scoring, with 16 points. Coblentz and Higgins combined to hit seven threes for the game.

The game marked the first of three straight away from South Euclid for Notre Dame, which now carries a 4-3 road record on the season. It also marked the beginning of a regular-season home stretch that has the Falcons on the road at four AMC foes with a combined 32-7 (.821) mark in their home buildings. (Malone is 7-3 at home after Tuesday night's victory.)

That stretch includes the Falcons' next game, which is slated for Saturday, Feb. 6, at Cedarville. The No. 18 Yellow Jackets came into Tuesday with an 8-1 mark at home and a 15-7 record overall. The CU-NDC tilt is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Saturday night. 

Despite Tuesday's loss, Notre Dame Head Coach Kevin Bille remained optimistic about his squad, praising their effort in the battle with Malone:  "Our guys were tough as nails tonight, and I'm extremely proud of them. They gave everything they had tonight - we just fell one shot short."


NOTES FROM THE NEST …

LOW POINT: Notre Dame's 22 points marked their lowest offensive output for a half this season. … Prior to being outshot by Malone, NDC had posted a higher field-goal percentage than their opponent in 10 straight games.

HOT SHOTS: Malone had shot a combined 58.1 percent (68-for-117) over its two previous games. … The Pioneers' Eric Coblentz came into Tuesday's game ranked fifth in the nation in free-throw accuracy, connecting on 88.9 percent (64-for-72) from the line. Coblentz has also been on target from long range - he came into Tuesday's action as the AMC's leader in 3-pointers made per game (3.2), while ranking second in 3-point accuracy (42.2 percent, 70-for-166). … In winning their previous six games, MU averaged 87.0 points per game.

HOME MALONE: MU is now 3-1 in four meetings with the Falcons on their home floor at the Osborne Center in Canton. The Pioneers hold a 6-4 edge n the all-time series between the two programs. Notre Dame defeated Malone, 70-56, in their first meeting this season, on Dec. 2.