Box Score SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. -- The Notre Dame Falcons fell in double overtime to the Shepherd Rams, 120-114, on Saturday, in their first game in just over two weeks.
The Falcons (7-4, 3-2 MEC) have now lost four in a row on the road, while the Rams (8-3, 3-2 MEC) won their sixth game in seven tries at home.
Free throw shooting was a huge factor in the game, especially in the second half and in both overtime periods. On the evening, the Falcons shot 72.7-percent (24-for-33) from the line, while the Rams hit on 83.7-percent (41-for-49) of their shots from the charity stripe. Shepherd shot 81.2-percent (13-for-16) from the line in the second OT to secure the win.
Both teams shot the lights out in the opening five minutes of the contest, which saw both teams go on modest runs, but neither side could take a decisive advantage. Notre Dame shot 50.0-percent (6-for-12) from the floor during that stretch while the Rams shot 55.6-percent (5-for-9), and the game was tied at 14-14 at the 14:51-mark.
Over the following three-and-a-half minutes, the Falcons kick started a 10-2 run, capped by a layup from
Oliver Megins at the 12:06-mark, giving the Falcons a 24-16 advantage. Notre Dame was able to maintain a lead, even though the Rams pulled within three on several occasions, thanks to NDC's continued success from the field, where they shot 60.0-percent (15-for-25) over the first 14 minutes of action.
Shepherd remained within striking distance even though the Falcons shot extremely well, finding themselves down five (36-31) with six minutes left, because of their ability to draw contact and get to the line. During the first 14 minutes of action, the Rams got to the free throw line eight times, hitting five of those shots, while the Falcons didn't get there at all during that stretch. However, the Falcons remained ahead, because of their ability to shoot, especially from 3-point land, where they shot well above 50.0-percent for most of the half.
The Rams' ability to take care of the ball also allowed them to endure NDC's hot shooting performance, as the Rams committed just four turnovers during the game's first 16 minutes. The Rams brought the deficit down to one (36-35) with 4:17 left, which was as close as they'd gotten since the 13:31-mark.
Both teams had a tough time making shots down the stretch in the opening half, and the Falcons missed three of their final four shots of the half, which allowed the Rams to take a 42-40 lead at the half.
Notre Dame maintained a strong shooting performance throughout the half, hitting on 51.5-percent (17-for-33) of their shots, including a 40.0-percent (6-for-15) clip from beyond the arc. Megins led the Falcons with 13 first half points, and was perfect from the floor, hitting all five of his shots, including three from beyond the arc. The Rams also shot well, getting half (15) of their 30 first half shots to fall.
Lawrence DeArmond got the Falcons going in the second half, as he buried a pair of 3-pointers in the opening minute to give the Falcons a 46-42 lead. The two teams continued to shoot well through the opening 10 minutes of the second half, which saw the lead change hands a few times, but neither side was able to take a decisive advantage.
Halfway through the second half, Shepherd led the Falcons, 62-58, and
Tyree Gaiter scored five of NDC's next 10 points, as the Falcons pulled within one (69-68) at the 8:06-mark after a 3-ball from
Kyauta Taylor.
Over the next minute of the contest, the Rams continued to draw fouls and get to the line, as four of their next six points came on free throws, and they saw their lead extend to seven (79-72) with 6:09 remaining. Notre Dame was able to bring the deficit back down to two (79-77) after DeArmond hit another 3-pointer with 5:05 left.
Both teams had their fair share of opportunities from the charity stripe over the final five minutes of the contest. Shepherd had led ever since the 12:00-mark, until Gaiter hit a trio of clutch free throws with seven seconds remaining to tie the game, 90-90, forcing Notre Dame's first overtime contest of the season.
The first overtime period was tightly contested, with a lot of opportunities for both sides coming at the free throw line. Notre Dame had not led since the 13:06-mark in the second half, until DeArmond hit a free throw with 1:13 left in overtime to give NDC a 104-103 advantage. With nine seconds remaining, Shepherd's Morgan McDonald split a pair of free throws to tie the game at 106-106, and Gaiter missed a shot at the buzzer forcing another overtime.
Fatigue seemed to set in initially for both teams in the second overtime, as the Rams missed their first four shots from the floor and the Falcons missed their first six. NDC took a 108-106 lead after a pair of free throws from Megins, and neither team was able to score from anywhere other than the free throw line until Skyler Roman hit a layup for the Rams at the 1:27-mark to give them a 112-108 advantage. Notre Dame missed their first six shots from the floor in the second overtime period, which allowed the Rams to develop a seven point lead (115-108), and their strong free throw shooting performance allowed them to pull away.
Gaiter led the Falcons with a double-double, pouring in 30 points and added a season high, 11 assists. DeArmond wasn't far behind, with 29 points and led the Falcons with 13 rebounds. Megins added 23 points and Taylor contributed with 16.
The Falcons are in action again on Monday, Jan. 5, for more MEC action as they square off against Fairmont State in Fairmont, W.Va. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 PM.
