Box Score
WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. -- The Notre Dame Falcons opened their 2016-17 season on Friday night, with a 96-87 victory over West Chester.
For Notre Dame (1-0) the victory marked their third straight in a season opener, and it was their fourth win in their last five season openers, while the loss for West Chester (0-1) was their first in a season opener since 2013-14.
Notre Dame shot extremely well throughout the night, shooting 54.8-percent (34-for-62) and five Falcons scored in double figures.
The first 10 minutes of the game belonged to the Falcons, as they were red hot from the opening tip. Notre Dame shot 57.1-percent (8-for-14) from the floor, and they blistered the nets from beyond the arc, shooting 63.6-percent (7-for-11) from 3-point land to take a 28-17 lead over the first 10 minutes of the game.
Will Vorhees paced Notre Dame during that stretch, scoring 11 of those points, while
Drew Scarberry dumped in nine, on the strength of a 3-for-4 shooting performance from 3-point land.
Notre Dame led by as many as 15 (37-22) after another Scarberry 3-pointer with 8:08 left in the half, before the Rams cut into the lead. The Rams found their stride, and shooting touch over the final 10 minutes of the half. They were down, 42-34, after a
Kobie Johnson jumper with 4:18 to play in the half, before going on a 13-3 run over the next three minutes, and eventually took a 47-46 lead with less than a minute to play.
Vorhees hit a pair of free throws inside the final minute to tie the game at 47-47, but the Rams returned the favor as Hyland Jackson buried two from the charity stripe just a few moments later. However, the Falcons had the last laugh of the half, as Scarberry buried another 3-ball with 23 seconds left to give NDC a 50-49 lead, which they took into the locker room.
Scarberry led the Falcons with 21 points in the first half, getting all of his points from 3-point land, where he shot 87.5-percent (7-for-8). Vorhees added 16 and four rebounds. The Falcons distributed the ball well, as they assisted on 10 of their 15 first half field goals. Notre Dame shot 51.7-percent (15-for-29) from the floor, and shot 54.5-percent (12-for-22) from 3-point land.
About two minutes into the second half, the Rams took a 54-53 advantage, before the Falcons went on a 9-0 run, getting big buckets from Vorhees and
Kyauta Taylor during that stretch to take a 62-54 lead, and they capped that run on a jumper from Taylor which came off an assist from Johnson.
The Falcons went cold offensively for the next three minutes, and did not score again until
Ja'Sean Lewis buried a jumper on an assist from
Oliver Megins, to give Notre Dame a 64-58 lead with 12:29 left in the game. That kick started the NDC offense, as they nailed their next four shots, and took another double digit lead after Johnson's jumper put the Falcons ahead 73-60 with 10:15 to go.
Notre Dame maintained a comfortable lead through the rest of the contest and never looked back. They led by as many as 17 (83-66) with 7:29 play, and they withstood a couple of modest runs from the Rams to hang on for the win.
Vorhees led the way with 27 points to go along with six rebounds and four blocks. Scarberry added 24 points and a trio of assists. Lewis had a double-double, with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Taylor finished the night with 21 points, seven assists and five steals, and Johnson added 11 points to go along with five assists.
The Falcons return to action at the West Liberty Tournament on Saturday, Nov. 12, when they square off against Cheyney State at 5:30 p.m.
