Box Score
WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. -- The Notre Dame Falcons pulled off the largest upset in the history of the program on Thursday evening, as they knocked off the No.1 team in the nation, and previously unbeaten Hilltoppers of West Liberty, 89-87.

For the Falcons (7-11, 5-7 MEC) the victory was their first against a top ranked team at any level, and brought a four-game road losing streak to an end, while the loss for the Hilltoppers (16-1, 12-1) not only snapped their 16-game winning streak, but it marked their first home loss in conference play since 2008. 

Much like their first meeting of the season, the Falcons put a scare into the top ranked Hilltoppers right away by playing very well in the first half.  While neither side was able to take control through the early stages of the game, Notre Dame caught fire right from the tip, and shot the lights out.

The Falcons shot 61.1-percent (11-for-18) through the first 10 minutes of the game, and mounted a 27-21 lead in the process.  While Notre Dame's terrific shooting was on display for most of the half, and their lead eventually grew to nine (40-31) the Hilltoppers eventually found their stroke as well, and battled back. 

The Hilltoppers trailed 40-31 with 5:28 to play, before they went on a 14-4 run over the next four minutes, to tie the game at 45-45, before outscoring the Falcons 12-2 over the final 90 seconds of the opening half to take a 57-47 lead at the break. What kept the Falcons close, and ahead through most of the first half, was their terrific shooting performance, shooting 56.3-percent (18-for-32) from the floor, and the fact that they committed just five turnovers in the opening half.

Notre Dame wasted no time diving into the deficit in the second half, as they opened it with a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to four (57-51) over the first two minutes, and eventually regained the lead at the 12:50-mark on Lawrence DeArmond's layup to give the Falcons a 66-65 advantage.

The Falcons didn't stop there, as their zone defense continued to give the Hilltoppers fits, and they found themselves ahead, 71-65 after Jarvis Huntley's old fashioned 3-point play with 12 minutes to play. Notre Dame then took their largest lead of the half, after Tyree Gaiter buried a jumper at the 11:10-mark to give NDC a 73-65 advantage. Notre Dame never trailed the rest of the way.

Through the final 10 minutes of the second half, the Hilltoppers inched closer and closer, but the Falcons were able to match West Liberty shot for shot. 

The No.1 team in the nation had a few shots at the end of the game to either tie it up, or send it into overtime.  With 27 seconds left, the Hilltoppers had a 3-pointer blocked by DeArmond in the corner, before Shawn Dyer misfired on a 3-ball, and though the Hilltoppers grabbed the rebound, they weren't able to convert as time expired.

"I'm very proud of the way our guys played tonight," said Head Coach Tim Koenig. "West Liberty is an outstanding team, and it took a collective team effort to pull off this upset.  I can't say enough about our players and our staff, and the work they put into this huge victory." 

Only six Falcons saw action in the major upset.  DeArmond led the way for the Falcons with a double-double, scoring 27 points and 12 rebounds.  He was big on the defensive end as well with three blocks.  Gaiter had 23 points on the night to go along with seven assists and three steals, while Huntley added 19 points to go along with three assists, and Kalomo Figueroa-Jackson added 11 points.

On the night, the Falcons shot 52.9-percent (37-for-70) from the floor, while holding the Hilltoppers to just a 41.5-percent (34-for-82) clip from the floor, a remarkable feat, considering West Liberty's numbers  entering the contest, as the highest scoring team in the nation averaging 111.3 points per game.

The Falcons are in action again on Saturday, Feb. 1, when they play host to Concord (W.Va.) at Murphy Gymnasium.  Tipoff is set for 4 p.m.