Box Score WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. -- Notre Dame's early season upset bid was upended on Thursday evening, as they fell to No. 1 West Liberty, 120-85.
The Falcons (5-2, 2-1 MEC) saw a three game winning streak come to an end in the loss, which was their first in MEC action, while the victory for the Hilltoppers (5-0, 3-0) avenged an upset loss to the Falcons at home last season.
On the night, West Liberty controlled the contest by controlling the glass, outrebounding NDC 57-37 on the night, and grabbed 25 offensive rebounds, while shooting 48.6-percent (17-35) from 3-point land.
Despite all of that, Notre Dame was able to hang with the top dogs in the conference in the early stages of the contest. The Falcons buried five out of their first eight shots during the opening five minutes of the contest, and found themselves ahead, 14-13, after a 3-pointer from
Kyauta Taylor at the 15:11-mark.
Shortly thereafter, the Hilltoppers seized control of the contest, as they took a lead that they would never surrender. Seger Bonifant hit a trio of free throws at the 14:26-mark, which kick started a 14-0 run for West Liberty over the next four minutes of the contest.
West Liberty maintained a double digit lead through the remainder of the half, but Notre Dame was able to catch fire towards the end of the half. At the 2:41-mark,
Lawrence DeArmond buried a jumper which started a 9-1 run over the next minute of the game to bring the deficit down to 11 (52-41), but that was as close as they would get, as the Hilltoppers took a 58-43 lead into the break.
Things didn't get much better in the second half, as the Hilltoppers shot the lights out over the final 20 minutes of the game, never giving the Falcons a chance to come back. The lead just continued to grow, as West Liberty shot 54.5-percent (24-for-44) in the second half, including a 55.0-percent (11-for-20) clip from beyond the arc.
Notre Dame shot 47.0-percent (31-for-66) from the floor on the evening, but had trouble filling it up from long distance, shooting just 23.8-percent (5-for-21) from 3-point land and they struggled at the free throw line, hitting on just 51.4-percent (18-for-35) of their tosses from the charity stripe.
Four Falcons scored in double figures on the night. DeArmond led the way for Notre Dame, with 25 points to go along with six rebounds and a pair of blocks.
Tyree Gaiter wasn't far behind with 19 points and he added five assists. Taylor finished the night with 13 points and a team high, eight rebounds, while
Oliver Megins ended the contest with 11 points and four rebounds.
The Falcons are in action again on Saturday, Dec. 6, when they play host to Wheeling Jesuit at Murphy Gymnasium in another Mountain East Conference tilt. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.
