Box Score
NASVILLE, Tenn. -- The Notre Dame Falcons made a 10-point halftime deficit disappear against Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.) on Saturday evening, but eventually fell to the Trojans in overtime, 87-85.

The loss for the Falcons (2-9) was their sixth in a row, and their seventh straight away from Murphy Gymnasium, while the victory for the Trojans (4-10) was their second in their last three games.

NDC was down 10 at the half, and trailed by as many as 12 in the second half, before they went on a 17-0 run to get back into the contest. In overtime, the Trojans completed an old fashioned 3-point play with 20 seconds remaining to take an 87-85 lead, and the Falcons missed a jumper as time expired to seal the deal.

The Falcons were able to stay within striking distance in the opening stanza, by hitting 42.8-percent (6-for-14) of their shots from beyond the arc. However, inside the 3-point line, they shot just 25.0-percent (4-for-16). 

The two sides went back and forth during the first four minutes of the contest, and NDC took their first lead of the night when Cameron Carlin drained a 3-ball at the 17:26-mark, giving the Falcons a 9-7 advantage.

However, the Falcons lost their shooting touch over the next four minutes while the Trojans went on an 8-0 to regain the lead.  NDC didn't get on the board again until Carlin hit another 3-pointer with 13:18 left in the opening half. 

The Trojans were able to maintain a lead through the rest of the half.  Notre Dame was able to pull within two on a pair of occasions. NDC narrowed the deficit to two (19-17) after Lawrence DeArmond's jumper at the 9:52-mark, but the Trojans followed with a 7-1 run over the following four minutes and led by no less than eight the rest of the way, while taking a 39-29 halftime lead.  

Trevecca added to their lead just 20 seconds into the second half to take a 12-point (41-29) lead, but the Falcons came right back.  NDC was able to chip away at the deficit, and eventually brought it back down to six (48-42) after Jarvis Huntley's layup with 15:20 to play.

The Trojans answered, and took a 58-46 advantage, before the Falcons triggered an incredible, 17-0 run over a four minute stretch, which was capped by Raphi Tekie's 3-pointer at the 8:19-mark to take a 63-58 advantage.  The Falcons shot 70.0-percent (7-for-10) during the run, which included trifecta's from both Tekie and Tyree Gaiter.

Notre Dame took their largest lead of the night when Kalomo Figueroa-Jackson hit a 3-pointer with 4:14-to play, giving NDC a 74-66 advantage.  However, the Trojans came storming back, and eventually tied the game at 76-76 after Nick Drake split a pair of free throws with 1:17 remaining. 

Both teams scored in the final minute of regulation, and Notre Dame was able to force an overtime period after Gaiter hit a jumper with six seconds left.

In overtime, neither side was able to pull away.  The Falcons took an 83-82 lead on DeArmond's layup with 2:42 to play, and they saw that lead extend to three (85-82) about a minute later on another DeArmond layup.

With a minute to play, J.P. Nyadaro hit a pair of free throws to bring the Trojans back within one (85-84).  Marquise Rudolph then hit a layup with 21-secons remaining, and was fouled by Figueroa-Jackson on the play.  Rudolph hit the free throw to complete the old fashioned 3-point play, and Figueroa-Jackson's jumper at the buzzer did not fall, sealing the deal for Trevecca Nazarene.

“We did some things in the first half which were very uncharacteristic of our team,” said Head Coach Kevin Bille. “However, I'm extremely proud of the way we battled back and gave ourselves a chance to win. That's a great sign moving forward.”


Gaiter led the way for NDC offensively, and was one of five Falcons to score in double figures.  Gaiter four 3-pointers and ended up with 21 points on the night to go along with seven assists. DeArmond shot 72.7-percent (8-for-11) from the floor and came away with 16 points. Tekie and Eric Dummermuth came away with 10-points each.

The Falcons will be in action again on Wednesday, Jan. 9, when they take on Salem International (W.Va.) at Murphy Gymnasium.  The contest is scheduled to tip at 7 p.m.