Box Score
SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – The Notre Dame Falcons shot 49-percent from the field but were defeated by the Fairmont State Fighting Falcons, 97-77, at home on Saturday afternoon.

Notre Dame (12-3, 6-3 MEC) had their nine-game winning streak come to an end as they suffered their first loss in nearly two months. Fairmont State (15-0, 9-0 MEC), ranked number two in Division II, remains undefeated on the season. The Fighting Falcons last defeat came at the hands of Virginia State in the 2016 NCAA Atlantic Regional Tournament.

At the beginning of the contest, Kobie Johnson got off to a good start, giving NDC a 4-0 lead with a jumper and a layup. But then Fairmont State answered with a 24-5 run over the span of about nine minutes. Vonte Montgomery, Thomas Wimbush, Matt Bingaya and D'Ondre Stockman all had at least one three-pointer during the run.

The Falcons got themselves back into the game with a balanced attack, inside and outside. Will Vorhees nailed a layup, Ja'Sean Lewis hit a three-point shot and then Oliver Megins put a layup in the basket at the 6:33-mark in the first half to cut the Fairmont lead to one point, 24-23.

Notre Dame could not come any closer in the first half and continued to try to catch up to the Fighting Falcons. With 40-seconds remaining in the half, Bingaya converted on a layup attempt and with six-seconds left, Shammgod Wells drained one of his three, three-point baskets that he made in the first half. Fairmont State led, 45-34 at halftime.

NDC did not waste any time trying to get back into the game once the second half began. Johnson hit a layup and Kyauta Taylor nailed a three, as Notre Dame went on a quick 5-2 run.

But the Falcons still found themselves trailing by eight points and Fairmont State did not let up. Johnson made two free throws with 17:32 remaining for Notre Dame, but Jason Jolly sunk a three-point bucket on the other end to push Fairmont's lead to 12 points.

NDC was able reduce the deficit to eight points,73-65, at the 7:49-mark in the second half on a three pointer by Taylor, but that was as close as they would get the rest of the way.

Along with shooting 49-percent from the field for the game, Notre Dame shot their field goals at a 54-percent mark in the second half. NDC also went 9-for-23 (39-percent) from behind the three-point line for the entire contest. Lewis (17 points), Taylor (16 points), Johnson (16 points) and Vorhees (12 points) all scored in double-digits. Lewis also recorded seven assists and six rebounds. 

Fairmont State shot the ball well as they went 37-for-72 (51-percent) from the field, overall. They shot the three-point ball at a 50-percent mark for the game, including 54-percent in the second half. They had four players score in double-digits and Bingaya had a double-double (32 points, 12 rebounds).

Notre Dame will stay home and host Shepherd University at the Murphy Gymnasium, on Monday, Jan. 16. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.