MELBOURNE, Fla. – With eight lead changes in the first half, Notre Dame College and Lynn University were battling for a win on the final day of the Florida Tech Winter Classic. Lynn grabbed the lead with under eight minutes to go in the second half and won, 68-63, on Monday afternoon.

The Falcons jumped in front after making the first two shots that they attempted. Junior Daylin Lee connected on a jumper and then junior Tyland Crawford knocked down a three pointer.

Lynn followed that by making three consecutive shots and jumped in front by a score of 8-7, following a three by Brandon Bornelus. The Fighting Knights grabbed that lead with 17:49 on the clock and would hold it until the 10:55-mark.

Junior Jaedon Willis stepped up and took over for the Falcons. He scored seven consecutive points and took the lead back, 16-15, with a jumper inside the three-point arc.

NDC started to grab some momentum when they hauled in two offensive rebounds before Willis hit a three, on the Falcons' third shot of the possession, to tie the game at 26, with 4:14 remaining. Two minutes later, Willis found Lee, who slammed it down with two hands to give NDC a 30-28 advantage.

Lynn tied the game once more, but then Willis closed out the half on the offensive end. With less than a minute remaining, Lee stole the ball and it eventually found Willis, who scored again. With only a couple seconds to go, Willis drew a foul behind the three-point line. He made two of three at the free throw stripe and gave NDC a four-point halftime lead (34-30).

Willis had 16 points in the first half and finished the contest with 23 points, four rebounds and four assists. As they did on Sunday, Notre Dame dominated the first half in points off turnovers (7-3) and fast break points (10-4).

NDC quickly increased their lead to seven as Lee was fouled on his way to the basket, early in the second stanza. He banked in the shot after the contact and then knocked down the free throw to give the Falcons a 37-30 lead.

A long range shot by Lee gave Notre Dame an eight-point advantage (42-35), with 16 minutes remaining.

Lee had 14 points in the contest and shot the ball at 55-percent.

Junior Michael Sampson showed his skill in cleaning the glass with just under 10 minutes to go in the game. Following a steal by Willis, Sampson missed a jumper and a layup, but stayed with it and brought down two offensive boards. His third attempt was a layup, and he was successful on that one, putting Notre Dame ahead, 48-43.

Sampson added seven rebounds to go along with eight points in the game.

Lynn struck back and went on a 14-4 run over the next four minutes. They took their first lead of the second half with 7:23 on the clock and led by five points, 57-52, with 5:44 remaining.

NDC fell behind by as many as eight points, but Willis tried to bring his team back. Under one minute to play, the junior guard had a successful trip to the free throw line for two points. He then knocked down a three to bring the Falcons within three points (66-63). Notre Dame could not get any closer.
 
Following the holiday break, Notre Dame will host Frostburg State on Jan. 5. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.