SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – After leading nearly the entire first half, Notre Dame College had to rally back from a seven-point deficit in the second half against Frostburg State University and the Falcons did just that, winning 84-76.

Notre Dame started the contest by making the first three field goals they attempted and sunk two free throws to grab a 9-2 lead with 17:37 remaining in the first half. The Falcons pushed the lead to 11 points, 19-8, after junior Jordan Roland hit his second three pointer of the game with 13:50 on the clock.

"I thought we needed to get off to a great start after a big win [against Fairmont State] and a quick turnaround," said head coach Mark Richmond. "I wanted to get off to a really good start because Frostburg is talented, they're hard to play against. They are really good offensively once they get going and get the momentum, so we didn't want to look up and be down early in the game."

NDC was still on top by 10 points, 35-25, with 4:21 on the clock, but Frostburg State caught fire from the three-point line. The Bobcats connected on four threes in the final four minutes and went on a 12-4 run to close within two points.

At halftime, the Falcons led by a score of 39-37. Junior Michael Sampson had six points and eight rebounds at the end of the half. Roland had 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting.

A dunk by junior Tyland Crawford capped a 6-0 run and gave Notre Dame a 45-39 lead, with just over two minutes gone in the second half. But, FSU responded with a 12-0 run and took their first lead of the game. The Bobcats were up 51-45 over the Falcons with 14:01 to go in the game.

Frostburg held the lead for eight minutes and increased the gap to as many as seven points. Notre Dame needed a spark and got one from junior Marquise Johnson, who checked in at the 10:10-mark in the second half.

"We were happy with Marquise and the surge of energy he gave us late in the game," Richmond said. "I knew he could come in and lift us offensively, but he made some plays defensively that really helped us as well, so I was proud of him. I thought that changed the game."

Johnson scored eight straight points for NDC. He connected on a layup, a jumper and then stole the ball and finished with a jumper on the other side of the court. On the next possession, he was fouled and sunk two free throws. After that 8-0 run, Notre Dame found themselves leading by a point, 64-63, with just under seven minutes remaining.

The work was not done for the Falcons, though, as Frostburg State immediately stretched their lead to four points with a couple made baskets.

"I thought we came out and played well early, and then maybe relaxed too much and let them into the game," Richmond mentioned. "Then we were in for a 40-minute dog fight. I was proud of our guys and the way they played. We didn't play our best, but found a way to win and that shows maturity."

With under two minutes remaining, Roland and sophomore Jordan Burton stepped up. Roland drove and hit a short jumper before sinking a three, which gave the Falcons a four-point lead, 76-72. And with under one minute to go, Burton went 7-for-8 at the free throw line.

"I thought JB [Burton] might not have shot the ball as well as he had hoped, but he still got 20 and made free throws down the stretch," Richmond said. "And I thought Jordan Roland did a good job getting into the paint, finding others. He helped us get off to a really good start. He helped us close the game in the final minutes."

Roland had 21 points and Burton added 20. They both made three 3-pointers. Sampson recorded his seventh double-double with 12 points and a season-high 16 rebounds. He also tied a season-high with six offensive rebounds.

Junior Elijah Barnett had nine points and four rebounds off the bench. He spoke after the game about finishing the shots around the rim when his teammates find him with a pass.

"They are just trusting me with the ball down there," he said. "It's a two-way street, they make the effort to get me the ball, I have to do my best to try to finish it. Especially when I'm down there."

Notre Dame has now outrebounded their opponents in seven consecutive games. They are 4-3 in that stretch. Tonight, NDC had 33 rebounds to FSU's 26. The Falcons pulled down seven offensive rebounds and had 13 second chance points.

Notre Dame wraps up the regular season on Feb. 27 when they host Alderson Broaddus University. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.