Box Score YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- The Notre Dame Falcons fell victim to a Youngstown State 3-point barrage in the first half of Tuesday night's contest, as the Falcons dropped their first road contest of the season, 80-62. (Box)

The loss for the Falcons (1-1) was their first on the road this season while Youngstown State's (2-0) sharp shooting gave them a perfect start to the season. 

Both teams shot very well in the first half, but Notre Dame did not have an answer for the Penguins perimeter attack, as they hit on 67 percent (12-for-18) of their 3-pointers, allowing them to take a commanding, 51-31 lead halfway through the contest. 

Not only did the Penguins shoot 67 percent from 3-point land, but they nailed their first seven three-point shots.  Youngstown State never trailed, and though the Falcons remained close over the first three minutes of the game, the Penguins used an 8-0 run to distance themselves from the Falcons, taking a 15-5 lead at the 15:47 mark. 

The Penguins just could not miss, and every time Notre Dame scored, YSU answered very quickly.   Despite falling behind by 20 in the first half, Notre Dame shot the ball well in the opening stanza.  The Falcons shot 48 percent (12-for-25) from the floor in the opening half, including a 63 percent clip (5-for-8) from 3-point land.  Eric Dummermuth scored seven out of NDC's first 13 points, and had 11 first half points.

While both teams shot the ball very well in the first half, nobody was able to score through the first three minutes of the second stanza.  Taylor Rieger hit the first bucket of the second half, with a 3-pointer at the 16:44-mark.  In addition, the Notre Dame defense held YSU without a basket for nearly six minutes to open the second half. 

Notre Dame outplayed the Penguins throughout the second half, outscoring the Penguins, 31-29 in the final 20 minutes of the contest.  It was a 10-0 run that put the Falcons within 14 points (66-52) of YSU at the 5:18-mark.  During that stretch, the Falcons held the Penguins without a field goal for eight straight minutes.  

"We talked at half time, about either lying down, or putting up a fight," said Head Coach Kevin Bille. "I'm really proud of our effort in the second half.  We didn't  lie down and battled until the final buzzer.  Now we need to build off that.”

Dummermuth led all scorers on the night with 20 points, and turned in his first double-double of the season with 10 rebounds.  Notre Dame freshman Marcquice Taylor was the only other Falcon in double figures with 13 points, while Raphi Tekie added nine points and seven boards. 

On the evening, the Falcons shot 42 percent (20-for-49) from the floor, and 42 percent (8-for-19) from beyond the arc.  Their 42 percent clip from 3-point land marked a remarkable improvement from their season opener, where they shot just 19 percent from 3-point land on 4-for-21 shooting. 

NDC will be in action again on Saturday, Nov. 19.  The Falcons will engage in another road tilt, against Hiram, at 3:00 p.m.

NOTES FROM THE NEST ...

NDC vs. D-I: Tuesday night's contest marked the fifth time that the Falcons have faced a division one program in the history of the program.  It was also NDC's first meeting with a D-I, since falling to Cleveland State, 88-62, back on Nov. 13, 2006.  The Falcons are 0-5 all time against D-I foes, including losses to Oakland (Mich.) Bowling, Green, and Kent State. 

CHASING SCHOOL HISTORY: With 20 points on Tuesday night, Dummermuth has now scored 1,892 career points, just 380 away from surpassing Jerome Pierce for the most in school history.