CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Following a tough offensive first half for Notre Dame College, the Falcons put the ball in the hoop early in the second half to cut the University of Charleston lead to 10 points. Charleston was able to hold on to its advantage and won by a score of 87-67, on Saturday.
 
To start the game, Charleston made six of its first seven shots. The Falcons fell behind by 15 points, 21-6, but began to work back into the game. Around the 10-minute mark, sophomore DeAirius Barker scored eight consecutive points for NDC. Barker connected on a stepback three from the far sideline, found a hole in the defense and took the ball to the hoop for a two-handed dunk and then knocked down another three.
 
On back-to-back possessions, graduate student Tyland Crawford was fouled and went to the free throw line. He hit all four of those shots and NDC was down by just eight points, 27-19, with 7:29 on the first half clock. That capped a 13-6 run by the Falcons, in a little under four minutes.
 
The Golden Eagles stretched their lead back out to 17 points, 41-24, at the end of the first half. Senior Jaedon Willis led the way for the Falcons with 10 points.
 
NDC put together another run at the beginning of the second half, led by senior Daylin Lee. In the first two minutes, Lee took a pass from Barker and went to the hoop for a layup and then he used a nice move to put the ball over a defender and score with a jump shot. Charleston's CJ Meredith knocked down a three, but Crawford and Lee responded by each making a shot from long range.
 
UC missed back-to-back shots and after sophomore Jamarr Talbert Jr. hit a jumper, NDC was down by just 10 points, 46-36. That 12-5 run by Notre Dame to start the second stanza gave the Falcons some momentum.
 
Although Charleston went on another run, Willis knocked down shots on two consecutive possessions and, a few minutes later, sophomore Andre Harris connected on a three to pull the Falcons within 15 points with 10 minutes to go in the game.
 
Willis added 12 points in the second half and totaled 22 points. Barker added nine in the final 20 minutes, finishing the game with 17 points and making a team-high seven shots. Crawford added seven points and six rebounds. As a team, NDC shot much better in the second half, going 15-for-34 (44-percent).

Notre Dame will stay on the road and play Wheeling University on Jan. 18. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.