Box Score LAREDO, Texas -- The Notre Dame Falcons established a double digit lead early on in the first half of Friday night's game against Texas A&M International University (TAMIU), but the Dust Devils battled back, and shot the lights out in the second half, to secure an 84-76 victory over NDC. (Box)

For the Falcons (4-6) the loss was their second in a row, coming after a season long, 12 day layoff. The win for the Dust Devils (9-3) was their sixth in a row, and they have not lost since Nov. 25, when they dropped an 85-77 decision to CSU Stanislaus. 

The Falcons took charge early on, and led by as many as 11 points (18-7), on the strength of a 62.4-percent (15-for-24) shooting performance from the floor in the opening stanza.  Notre Dame scored 13 of the first 17 points in the contest. 

NDC took a 13-4 advantage, when Phil Biggs connected on a big 3-ball at the 15:24-mark.  It was Marcquice Taylor's old fashioned 3-point play that gave the Falcons their 18-7 edge, with 13:38 to play in the opening stanza. 

Shortly after Taylor nailed his free throw to give the Falcons their biggest lead, TAMIU's Tyree Murray buried a 3-pointer, which began a 10-0 run for the Dust Devils.  The Dust Devils eventually tied the game at 21-21, with 9:12 remaining on Scottie Payne's layup. 

The two teams exchanged baskets over the next few minutes, but the Dust Devils took the lead for good, when Evan Matteson sank a pair of free throws with 5:44 to play in the first half, and took a 40-37 lead into the locker room at the half. 

While it was the Falcons who could not miss early in the first half, the Dust Devils happily returned the favor, filling it up with ease, early in the second half.  TAMIU hit four out of their first seven shots in the second half, while the Falcons went ice cold. 

Taylor Rieger hit a 3-ball for NDC two-and-a-half minutes into the half, and those were the only points the Falcons scored over the first five minutes of the half. The Dust Devils used a 15-5 run to set the tone early in the second half, and led by as many as 23 (78-55). 

Notre Dame did not go away easily.  The Dust Devils led by 18 (80-62) with 3:15 to play, when Notre Dame went on a 12-2 run, capped by Kalomo Figueroa-Jackson's 3-pointer with 37 seconds to go, narrowing the deficit to eight (82-74), but it was not enough. 

"We are never satisfied with losing, but there were some encouraging signs for us tonight," said Head Coch Kevin Bille.  "If we can get rid of the mental lapses, and start making shots, then we'll be fine.  The little things need to be important to us all of the time, not just sometimes."

Biggs led the Falcons on the night with 20 points, while Taylor added 18 and Figueroa-Jackson added 10.  Biggs and Raphi Tekie paced the Falcons on the glass, with six boards apiece, and Taylor led NDC with five assists.

The Falcons shot 54.9-percent (28-for-51) from the floor on the evening, including a 53.8-percent (7-for-13) clip from long distance, but struggled at the free throw line, netting just 54.2-percent (13-for-24) of their shots from the charity stripe.

The Falcons are in action again on Saturday, Dec. 31.  They will take on St. Edwards (Texas) on the final day of the tournament.  Tip-off is slated for 3:00 PM. 

NOTES FROM THE NEST ...

MEET THE DUST DEVILS: Texas A & M International University is located in Loredo, Texas, and they sponsor 10 varsity athletic programs.  The University was originally founded in 1970, when the institution went by Texas A&I University at Laredo.  In 1977, it became Laredo State University.  The University became a Member of The Texas A&M University System on September 1, 1989 and was named Texas A&M International University in 1993.  Currently, 7,000 students are enrolled at TAMI. 

TOURNAMENT TEAMS: The Falcons and Dust Devils make up one half of the four team tournament, hosted by TAMI.  The other two teams are Cedarville, who the Falcons will not play in this tournament, but will play twice later on this season, and St. Edwards, who the Falcons play on New Year's Eve.  Cedarville entered the tournament with a record of 6-5, while St. Edwards enters the tourney with a 6-3 record. 

DECEMBER TO REMEMBER: The Falcons are 3-3 in the month of December, and they've had some memorable victories this month.  After losing their third consecutive game, in an 89-57 loss to Findlay on Dec. 3, to open the month, the Falcons ran off three straight victories.  Included in their three game winning streak, was a come from behind, 65-62 victory over Roberts Wesleyan, followed by a 70-68 triumph over Houghton on the very next night.