Box Score Institute, W.Va. –The Notre Dame Falcons began the 2014-15 season on Saturday evening, with a convincing, 93-71 victory over Shaw in the first day of play at the Earl Lloyd Conference Challenge.
For the Falcons (1-0) the victory marks the third time in the last four seasons that they've come out on top in their season opener.
Shaw (0-1) outscored Notre Dame, 8-2 in the opening 90 seconds of the contest, on the strength of two early 3-poiners from Jamar Cooper. Notre Dame was able to remain well within striking distance early on, as they trailed, 15-10, just five minutes into the contest, despite shooting just 23.5-percent (4-for-17) from the floor during that stretch.
The Falcons then turned up the heat, as they went on an incredible, 22-2 run over the next 10 minutes, to take a commanding, 32-17 advantage. During that incredible run, freshman
Kyauta Taylor scored nine points to trigger the NDC attack. The Falcon defense was also a big key during that run, as Shaw missed 12 consecutive shots during that stretch, while the NDC defense forced 10 turnovers during the 22-2 run as well.
Notre Dame was able to ride the momentum of that big run into the locker room at the half, with a 35-26 advantage. The Falcons were active defensively, and their defensive effort certainly affected the Bears, who shot just 28.6-percent (8-for-28) in the opening half.
The beginning of the second half saw another big run for the Falcons, who shot the lights out at the start of the second half by hitting their first five shots from the floor. While the Falcons remained red hot, the Bears were equally as cold, as they turned it over twice, and missed their first three shots of the second half. Notre Dame's hot shooting gave them a 20 point advantage (49-29) with 16:35 left in the contest.
The contest was never in question the rest of the way, as the Falcons lead by no less than 18 through the remainder of the contest, and they at one point led by as many as 30 (82-52). The Falcons were red hot in the second half, shooting 58.8-percent (20-for-34) from the floor, including a 47.1-percent (8-for-17) clip from beyond the arc.
Four Falcons scored in double figures, and
Tyree Gaiter led the way with 29 points to go along with four assists. Gaiter did a lot of his damage from 3-point land, where he shot 50.0-percent (4-for-8). Taylor wasn't far behind, scoring 26 points, and he was red hot from beyond the arc as well, hitting 60.0-percent (6) of his 10 shots from 3-point land, and he added a game high, six steals as well.
DeArmond stuffed the stat sheet as well, contributing with 15 points, and nearly half of those (7) came at the free throw line, while he added a team high, six assists, and eight rebounds.
Will Vorhees scored in double figures as well, pouring in 13 points and came away with a team high, four blocks as well.
Notre Dame is in action again on Sunday, Nov. 16, when they square off against Virginia-Union, on the final day of play in the MEC-CIAA Crossover Tournament in Institute, W.Va. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
