SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- Energy and defense were the difference for Notre Dame College from the opening tip, in their 109-81 victory over Glenville State College, on Thursday evening. According to Drew Scarberry, who had 23 points, the team executed their gameplan to perfection. And tonight marked the first time NDC has scored over 100 points since November 20, 2017.

"Our defense has been an emphasis all year and we were really disappointed with our effort and execution against Lake Erie," head coach Tim Koenig said. "That was a big point of emphasis this week in practice. I'm really proud of the guys throughout the roster, especially the guys who don't get to play as much. Our first five, set the tone defensively and we were a lot smarter offensively, we didn't take many bad shots. We played really hard and together and executed."

The Falcons (9-4, 5-2 MEC) scored the first six points of the game as redshirt-senior Will Vorhees and junior Bruce Hodges III both finished on layup attempts and Vorhees sank a jumper. A few minutes later, Notre Dame went on a 15-0 run between the 16:51-mark and the 13:31-mark in the first half. NDC led, 24-5.

"A lot of good things happened when we got their zone to shift and then we hit the seams," Koenig described. "We wanted to get behind the zone. We wanted guys on the baseline and then ran multiple cutters through the lane. The second cutter was open tonight."

That fast start set the tone for the entire night. After the early 15-0 scoring barrage, which included four three pointers, Notre Dame never led by less than 16 points in the first half.

Glenville State (7-6, 2-5 MEC) struggled to get going in the first 20 minutes. They shot 25-percent from the field and 24-percent from long range. Notre Dame led, 56-27, at halftime, which marked their highest point total in an opening half all season. Glenville State has now been held to under 30 first half points in three straight games.

For Notre Dame, Vorhees had a monstrous 16 minutes of action, recording 17 points and 13 rebounds in the first half. He added two blocks and shot 8-for-11 (73-percent) from the field. Scarberry came off the bench to add 14 points and hit four three pointers. NDC had five first half steals. Phil Bledsoe led the Pioneers with eight points.

"We knew coming into the game that they were a big zone team," Scarberry said. "My job was to come in and hit the open shots. When I came off the bench, they were playing the zone and my teammates did a great job of finding me to get me warmed up. All credit to my teammates for setting me up… I haven't had the best shooting year so far, but it felt good to heat up tonight and get a win at home."

"We keep telling Scarberry, the shot is going to come and it came," said Koenig. "His shot selection was really good, for the most part. Our shot selection was really good today."

After the halftime break, Notre Dame increased the lead to 35 points, almost immediately. Sophomore Halil Parks made a three pointer which was sandwiched by freshman Isaiah Sanders' two jumpers to start the half. A fastbreak layup by Hodges with 18:26 remaining made the score, 65-30.

The largest lead of the game for the Falcons came after a fastbreak layup by Parks, following a Vorhees steal, gave NDC a 37-point lead, 77-40, with about 14 and-a-half minutes to go in the contest.

Glenville State did cut the deficit to less than 30 points late in the second half. Bledsoe helped out by scoring eight of the Pioneers' 17 points scored in the final eight minutes. The Falcons defeated GSC, 109-81.

For the Pioneers, Bledsoe had 17 points and five rebounds in the second half and finished with 25 points, 10 rebounds and five made threes. Jamal Pollydore scored 25 points, including 22 second half points, and shot 10-for-14 (71-percent).

Vorhees and Scarberry both had 23 points in the game, making 19 shots, combined. Scarberry hit seven three pointers. Parks scored 12 points while Hodges and Sanders each scored 10 points. Freshman Maurice Carroll played 14 minutes and gave Notre Dame eight points and five rebounds off the bench. NDC shot 56-percent and won the rebounding battle, 43-40. The Falcons had 46 bench points.

"It's a big morale booster, but any team in our conference is tough, so to beat a team like we did tonight felt really good," Scarberry mentioned.

"Huge lift from Scarberry, huge lift from Larenz (Thurman) and his shots and Will (Vorhees) around the rim was really good," said Koenig. "Mo (Carroll) gave us lift. I thought Hamish (Warden) was pretty good too, we had him on Bledsoe when he was in the game and made him take tough shots. Kam (Harris) initially didn't make as many plays, but then he started making plays offensively and defensively. We need the contribution and to keep playing and keep getting better."

The Falcons will play another home game against W. Va. Wesleyan on January 12. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.