SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Notre Dame College opened the season at the Conference Challenge, hosted by Slippery Rock University, on Friday.
Jaedon Willis poured in 33 points for the Falcons, but Seton Hill University was able to get many points off turnovers throughout the night. SHU would go on to win by a score of 100-73.
Right after the opening tip, the offense for both teams began to take over as the teams traded baskets. NDC connected on their first four shots from the field and Seton Hill made the first three shots that they took.
The Falcons were getting to the hoop as Willis had four points in the paint in the first six minutes, to go along with close range shots by sophomore
Andre Harris and graduate student
Tyland Crawford.
With 13:37 on the first half clock, Notre Dame led 16-15 and both teams were shooting well over 50-percent from the floor (NDC – 58-percent, SHU – 55-percent). The Falcons then began to find the long-range shot, and after senior
Daylin Lee knocked down a three-pointer near the 13-minute mark, the Falcons were shooting 75-percent from three.
At that point, Seton Hill began to make an adjustment on defense. The Griffins went on an 8-2 run to tie the game at 23, with 8:56 to go in the first half. During that run, SHU caused five turnovers.
Willis did what he could to keep the game close. He knocked down a pair of free throws to stop the Griffins' run and keep the contest tied at 25. About a minute-and-a-half later, sophomore
DeAirius Barker found Willis in the corner for a big three to keep Notre Dame within three points, 31-28.
Seton Hill continued to shoot the ball well and led 53-36 at the halftime break. The Griffins were able to take 10 more shots than the Falcons in the opening stanza and shot the ball at 56-percent. NDC did outrebound SHU 19-14 in the first 20 minutes.
In the second half, Seton Hill continued to expand its lead. Willis was fouled behind the three-point arc as he went up for a shot, with 17:29 remaining in the game. He connected on all three free throws to make it a 17-point game, 58-41, but that would be as close as NDC would get.
Willis scored 33 points on 58-percent shooting and went 8-for-9 at the free throw line. He had two 30-point games in the 2021-22 campaign. Harris did a little bit of everything, scoring seven points and totaling three rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Barker added six rebounds and three steals. Sophomore
Kaleb Torrence came off the bench and scored 10 points in nine minutes.
Notre Dame will be right back on the floor tomorrow, for a 6 p.m. start against Slippery Rock.
