Box Score
SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- Notre Dame opened its 2012-13 season with a victory, as the Falcons took down the Westminster (Pa.) Titans, 91-76, on Friday night.

Senior forward Eric Dummermuth returned to action after missing 24 games due to injury a year ago.  And Dummermuth did so in style, leading all scorers with 32 points and grabbed 14rebounds.  Freshman Tyree Gaiter added 20 points in his collegiate debut, as Notre Dame (1-0)won its home opener for a fifth straight year.

The first seven minutes of the game were evenly-played with neither side grabbing early momentum.  But the host Falcons then went on a 9-0 run to go up, 20-10, by the midpoint of the first half.  NDC played solid defense, and the Titans went just 6-for-their-first-21 from the floor.  The opening 20 minutes was sloppy at times -- the two teams combined to commit 22 first-half turnovers.

Playing in his first collegiate game, Gaiter -- a 2012 graduate of Cleveland Heights High School -- had an impressive first half.  The 5-foot-6 guard made a pair of 3-pointers and scored 12 points.  He and the Falcons went into halftime with a 46-36 lead.  Dummermuth tallied 17 in the first half.

In the second half, it was more of the same for Dummermuth, who dominated the paint on the offensive end.  The Dover, Ohio, native buried six of nine free throws (66.6-percent).  He finished the night shooting 70.5-percent (12-of-17) from the floor and buried a pair of 3-balls.

The Titans got within five points (70-65) at the 7:53-mark, but Notre Dame maintained its advantage throughout a hard-fought second frame. The Falcons were able to stay hot from the floor in the second half, hitting on 47.2-percent (17-for-36) of their shots from the floor in the second half. 

NDC sophomore Lawrence DeArmond was the only other Falcon to score in double figures for NDC, finishing with 10 points on the evening.  Notre Dame enjoyed a steady, 47-32 advantage in rebounds, pulling down 18 offensive boards in the process.  In addition, the Falcons shot 48.5-percent on the evening on a 33-for-68 shooting performance, while holding the Titans to a 41.0-percent (25-for-61) clip.

"It was a good start for us, and we're very pleased with the victory," said Head Coach Kevin Bille.  "It was nice to see a lot of guys contribute.  We'll enjoy this, and get back to work quickly."

The victory for Notre Dame marked the fourth time that they've won their season opener over the last five seasons, and was their second victory over the Titans in the last three years.

The Falcons will be in action again on Thursday, Nov. 15, when they take on Malone in their first road tilt of the season.  The contest is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tilt.