SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – In a non-conference game to end the regular season, Notre Dame College took care of business in a 76-63 victory over Salem University. Prior to the game, the Falcons honored seniors Trent Williams and Trent Blackshire.
 
The two teams traded the lead four times, with an additional four ties in the opening six minutes.
 
NDC fell behind, 8-5, before junior Andre Harris knocked down a 3-pointer to tie the game. Junior Gbolahan Adio blocked a shot on the defensive end, leading to a layup by junior RJ Ogom, giving NDC a 10-8 lead, with 14:43 remaining in the half.
 
About a minute later, sophomore Devin Haid drove down the court and laid the ball up and in to give NDC a 12-10 lead. After that point, the Falcons would never give the lead back to SU.
 
Despite not being able to tie the game or take the lead back, Salem kept the game close. Near the ten minute mark, Notre Dame's freshman Robbie Cass grabbed an offensive rebound and knocked down a tough, off-balance layup to put NDC ahead by five. But, Salem went right down the court and sunk a triple to claw back within two.
 
Notre Dame first stretched its lead to double digits, with 5:12 on the clock in the first half. Adio made another solid defensive play and stole the ball, leading to a massive two-handed dunk by RJ Ogom to put NDC ahead, 30-19. Adio then hit from long distance to cap NDC's 13-2 run and give the Falcons a 33-19 advantage, with just 3:17 to go.
 
After a low-scoring opening 20 minutes, Notre Dame took a 36-25 lead into the halftime break.
 
Haid led all scorers with 10 points at halftime. As a team, NDC only shot 42-percent from the field, but Salem was held to 31-percent shooting.
 
On the first possession out of the locker room, Williams sunk a triple to push NDC's lead to 14 points, 39-25.
 
Salem did not go away, early in the second half. A three-pointer, five minutes in, shrunk NDC's lead to seven, 43-36, with 15:01 remaining in the game.
 
Following a timeout, with 14:24 on the clock, NDC took over. A 13-0 run put the Falcons in front by a score of 56-36, with just under 11 minutes to go. During the run, NDC got to the hoop with four layups.
 
The Tigers pounced right back and put together a 12-2 run of their own, closing the gap to 10 points, 58-48, with 7:19 remaining.
 
Notre Dame got back on track and pulled ahead by 15, 63-48, with a quick 5-0 run. Down the stretch, Salem would get within 11 points, twice, but that is close as the road team could get.

"I thought we did some good things, at times, but we left some out there, as well," head coach Mark Richmond said. "I thought the difference was our 51 rebounds and 18 offensive rebounds."
 
For NDC, Ogom, Haid and Williams all scored eight points in the final 20 minutes. Harris and Haid also added seven rebounds, each, in the second half.
 
Haid finished the game with 18 points and nine rebounds, while Ogom had 17 points, on 60-percent shooting from the field. Adio and Williams each added 10 points. Harris ended with seven points, 10 boards and five assists.
 
The Falcons brought down 33 defensive rebounds, which is tied for the third most in a game this season and they totaled 51 boards, which is the second most in a game this season. NDC outrebounded the Tigers by 14.
 
Notre Dame is the eight seed in the Mountain East Conference Tournament and will travel to WesBanco Arena, in Wheeling, W.Va. to play the nine seed Wheeling University, on March 6. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m.