CHARLESTON, W.Va. – After falling behind by 13 points with under eight minutes remaining in the second half, Notre Dame College came back to tie the game at 68. However, the University of Charleston outscored the Falcons 18-13 in overtime, to win 86-81, on Saturday afternoon.

The largest lead Charleston (7-3, 3-3 MEC) took in the first half was seven points. The first time the Golden Eagles grabbed their largest lead, 19-12, was with 12:28 to go before halftime.

Later in the half, NDC (7-3, 4-2 MEC) took over the lead after going on a 10-2 run over three minutes, which included two three pointers by Drew Scarberry. The offensive outburst put the Falcons on top, 36-34. That lead represented the Falcons first advantage since the 17:33-mark in the half, when they led 5-4.

The rest of the way, UC connected on two three pointers, but neither team scored in the final minute. At halftime, the Golden Eagles led, 40-38.

For much of the second half, the home team was in control. They went ahead by 10 points at the 12:02-mark on a jumper by Devon Robinson. The Golden Eagles led by eight points, or more, for the next seven minutes.

The turning point in the game came with 6:54 to go in the contest, while Charleston led 64-51. The Falcons began clicking on all cylinders for the first time in the second half.

NDC did not allow many second chance opportunities by grabbing rebounds off UC's misses. They were also much more aggressive around the hoop with six of their next eight points coming via the layup. Notre Dame put together an 11-0 run to get within two points, 64-62. Will Vorhees helped out with five points over that span.

Scarberry came through in the clutch with a minute-and-a-half to go in regulation. He knocked down a three pointer with 1:26 remaining, and then when the Falcons were down by three points, Robinson fouled Scarberry. The Falcons' redshirt-junior went to the free throw line for three shots.


Last season on the road against West Virginia Wesleyan, Scarberry hit three free throws with three second left to secure the win. On Saturday, he knocked down three free throws to tie the game at 68 and send the two teams into overtime. NDC closed regulation on a 17-4 run.

Although Notre Dame scored the first two points of overtime on a Halil Parks fastbreak layup, UC grabbed the lead. NDC tied the score a few times, but UC put the game away with one final 10-5 run.

Vorhees added 19 points and eight rebounds while shooting 57-percent from the field. Larenz Thurman scored 12 points, dished out five assists and grabbed seven boards. Scarberry had 18 points in 20 minutes off the bench. He shot 5-for-6 from behind the three point line.

Drew Rackley finished with 23 points, six rebounds and six assists for Charleston. He shot 50-percent from the field. Robinson gave UC 14 points and shot 7-for-7. The Golden Eagles had three players who made three, or more, threes. They shot 51-percent, as a team.

Notre Dame will play an exhibition game at Cleveland State University on Sunday, at 1 p.m. They will then come home to play Gannon University at 2 p.m. on December 15.