Box Score
SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- Saturday afternoon at Murphy Gym marked Senior Day for the Notre Dame College men's basketball program, as the Falcons played host to No. 8 Fairmont State in a Mountain East Conference showdown. However, the Falcons fell short at home in a high-scoring affair, losing 100-84 to FSU.

Before Saturday's contest, the Falcons men's basketball team honored its three seniors: Tyree Gaiter, Ryan Hickoff and Dylan Hickoff.

Gaiter led the Falcons with 27 points on 3-6 shooting from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, Will Vorhees had 17 points and eight rebounds for the Falcons.

The Falcons (16-8, 10-8 MEC) opened the game on an 8-3 run, capped by a lay-up from Tyree Gaiter, assisted by Ja'Sean Lewis. The Fighting Falcons responded with a run of their own, closing NDC's lead to just two points, 12-10, early in the first half.

However, consecutive buckets from Nathan Kellum and Gaiter kept the Falcons in front, taking a 16-10 lead with 13:24 remaining in the half. A 3-pointer from Gaiter eventually gave NDC a 21-12 lead over the eighth-ranked team in Division II. 

Both teams continued to exchange punches throughout the first half, and the Fighting Falcons strung together a few shots to make a run. NDC still led the Fighting Falcons, 31-29, following a free throw from Kellum with 4:16 remaining in the half.

But the Fighting Falcons clawed back again, using a run over the last few minutes of the first half to take a 44-38 lead over NDC at halftime.

Trailing by just six points at halftime, the Falcons knew they were within striking distance. Gaiter opened the second half with a basket to trim the Falcons' deficit to just four, and a pair of free throws from Marco Colombo further cut into FSU's lead, 44-42. 

However, the Fighting Falcons responded with a run that was highlighted by consecutive 3-pointers from FSU's Jamel Morris, and the Falcons trailed 54-42 with 17:03 remaining in the game.

Five minutes later at the 12:00 mark, the Falcons still trailed by just 12 points, 66-54, following a pair of free throws from Will Vorhees. FSU's Morris hit a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession, and Kyauta Taylor hit a three of his own to match the basket.

The Falcons continued to fight, putting together a 7-0 run to trim FSU's lead to 77-64 with 8:23 remaining in the game, but that's as close as the Falcons would come. NDC fell short to #8 FSU by a final score of 100-84.

With the loss, the Falcons drop to 16-8 overall, including a 10-8 in MEC play.

The Falcons return to action on Thursday, Feb. 18 on the road against the Virginia-Wise Cavaliers. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 pm.