Falcons too Much for Toronto!!

Eric Dummermuth had another double- double (27 points and 13 rebounds) to lead the Notre Dame Falcons to a 81-68 win in the Notre Dame College Baymont Inn Invitational consolation game. Nick McCartney and Al Miller joined Dummermuth in double figures Wednesday afternoon. The Falcons improved to 9-5 on the year.

Toronto only had two players in double figures. Nick Magolis had 20 points including 3 of 11 from downtown to lead the varsity blues. Nick Snow had 13 points before injuring his foot early in the second half. Due to the injury Snow was only able to play 20 minutes.

Notre Dame would jump on Toronto early, as Dummermuth would score the first six points of the game before a Snow bucket would cut it to 6-2 with 17:25 to go. Toronto would fight back and tie the game at 14 on a three by Rob Paris. Notre Dame would have an answer though, as the Falcons would outscore Toronto 21-8 to open up a 35-22 lead with 4 minutes in the half. The Falcons would lead by 14 (43-29) at halftime.

Toronto would come out in the second stanza and score the first 5 points to cut it to 43-34 on a Snow hoop with 12 minutes to go. Notre Dame would build up there lead and the Falcons would be up 17 (67-50) on a jumper by Nick McCartney with 8 minutes left. The Varsity Blues would get no closer than 13 the rest of the way.

The Falcons shot 51 percent from the field and hit 3 of 11 from distance. The Falcons were 14 of 16 at the charity stripe. Toronto shot 42 percent and hit 9 of 30 from long range. The Varsity Blues were 5 of 8 at the charity stripe. Indiana Wesleyan defeated Siena Heights 91-75 in the championship game. The Falcons of NDC will be back in action Tuesday when they take on Algoma. Tip time is 7 PM at Murphy gym.

Reynolds, Snipes Power Saints Past Falcons in Opening Round of Tourney!!

Brent Reynolds scored 23 points including 5 of 9 from long range as the 15th ranked Siena Heights Saints (13-2) knocked off the Notre Dame College Falcons 84-69 in the opening round of the Notre Dame Baymont Inn Holiday Tournament. Reynolds was one of four Saints in double figures on the evening. Mark Snipes tallied 17 points, Logan Matthews and Cortney Smith each tallied 14. Siena Heights shot 49 percent from the field, and was a sizzling 11-22 (50%) from three point range.

The Falcons (8-5) dropped their 5th game of the last six after a 7-0 start. The "blue and white" had three players in double numbers Tuesday evening. Nick McCartney led the way with 16 points and tallied 5 assists. Eric Dummermuth scored 14 on only 3 of 10 shooting. Dummermuth was held to just 7 rebounds. Dummermuth was well below his average (24.9 ppg). Curtis Mclure rounded out the double digit scorers with 12 for NDC. The Falcons struggled both from the field (38%) and from long distance (29%).

The Falcons came out of the gate quickly with a 4-0 start in the first minute and a half on hoops by Dummermuth and Miller. Siena Heights would answer with 5 straight points on a three ball by Cory Umfress and a bucket by Mark Snipes. The two teams would trade baskets for much of the first half until the Saints went on a mini run at the end of the half to take a 40-33 lead at the intermission.

Siena Heights would up that lead to 15 (50-35) early in the second half on a conventional three point play by Snipes. Notre Dame would answer with a 7-0 run to cut the Saints lead to 8 on a pair of free throws by Will Townsend. SHU would have an answer as they would open the lead back up to 13 (55-42) on another trey by Reynolds. The lead would stay that way for a few minutes until SHU would increase there bulge to 72-55 on a Mathews hoop. The Falcons would get no closer than 14 the rest of the way as the Saints would finnish off the 84-69 victory. The Falcons will be back in action Wednesday at 2 PM in the consolation game against Toronto Varsity Blues. Siena Heights will tangle with Indiana Wesleyan in the nightcap, tip time for that game is approximately 4 PM.

Falcons Halt Skid in Vegas!!

The Notre Dame Falcons (8-4) needed overtime but stopped a four game losing streak Saturday with a 73-69 win over Hope International (4-6). Eric Dummermuth who was dynamite during the Falcons seven game win streak and just good in the last four during the losing streak had another monster game scoring 37 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Second leading scorer Nick McCartney shook off his worst performance of the season Friday night to score 11 in Saturday's finale in Vegas.

Marcellus Cullors had 20 to lead the scoring for Hope International. Kris Rosales had 17, the only other member of the California school to be in double numbers. Hope shot 41 percent from the field, 25% from long distance, and 70% at the charity stripe.

NDC shot 39 percent from the field, 30% from long range, and 70 percent at the foul line. The Falcons dominated the boards holding a 44-34 advantage. The Falcons will be back in action on December 29th with a 6 PM tip against Siena Heights at the University center.

Falcons Skid Hits Four!

The Notre Dame Falcons dropped their fourth consecutive game Friday with a tough 55-53 loss to Westminster (7-4). Westminster tallied three players in double figures on the night. Blair Prowse, Ben Walker ,and Weston Anderson each had 12 points for Westminster. Walker led the team with 7 rebounds, and Jeramie Hopson had 5 assists.

The Falcons (7-4) also had three players in double numbers. Eric Dummermuth led the way with a double- double (19 points. and 10 rebounds), Karim McFarlane had 12 and Phil Biggs rounded out the double figure scorers with 11. The story of the game though was Falcons second leading scorer Nick McCartney going 0 for 8 from the floor including 0 of 6 from long range and not scoring. NDC shot 42 percent from the field as opposed to 46 for Westminster. The Falcons were 3 of 12 from distance, while Westminster was 6 of 23. The Falcons hit 6 of 8 (75%) from the charity stripe, while the opposition was 3 of 4 (also 75%). Westminster won the battle of the boards 31-29. The Falcons will be back in action Saturday as they close out the Las Vegas trip with a 5 PM tip against Hope International (CA).

Cannon's Buzzer Beater Stuns Falcons!!

For the second straight day the Notre Dame Falcons were upset at the State Farm Classic. This time it was the Wolves of Michigan Dearborn who sprung the upset with a 81-79 win on a three pointer at the buzzer by Jonathan Cannon. The Wolves (3-10) tallied four players in double figures on this Saturday matinee. Nicholas Simpson led the Wolves with 25 points on a 10 of 16 shooting night. Matt Ponik netted 17, LeAnte Duran tallied 16, and Cannon rounded out the double figure scorers that sent the Falcons to a third consecutive loss. Dearborn was sizzling from the field, they shot 55 percent (31 of 56) including 59 percent (16 of 27 in the first half). The Wolves did struggle at 64 percent from the free throw line (9 for 14). Dearborn committed 12 turnovers. The ball movement was very good for the Wolves which was evidenced by two stats. They were 42 percent (10 for 24) from three point land and had 23 assists as a team.

NDC (7-3) tallied three players in double digits. Eric Dummermuth led the way with 20. The Sophomore from Dover,OH was held to a season low 2 rebounds in this one. Nick McCartney scored 19, and Al Miller had 10. The Falcons shot 51 percent (32 for 63) from the field. The "blue and white" buried 42 percent from long range (6 of 14). The rebounding battle was dead even at 31. As has been the case in all three losses the Falcons struggled again at the charity stripe shooting 64 percent (9 of 14). The Falcons will travel to Las Vegas for the Vegas hoopla. Notre Dame will look to snap this three game losing skid Friday when they battle the Griffins from Westminster (UT) (6-4). Tip time is set for 7 PM.

Crusaders Send NDC to second straight loss!!

The Notre Dame Falcons (7-2) who looked unbeatable at times during their school record seven game win streak to begin the season lost for a second consecutive time Friday night. The Madonna Crusaders (2-8) protected their home floor with a 78-72 win at the Activities center in the Madonna State Farm classic.

The Falcons fell despite 22 points and a game high 17 rebounds from Sophomore Eric Dummermuth. Notre Dame had four players in double figures. Nick McCartney had 14, while Will Townsend and Curtis Mclure added 10 each. The Falcons were 28-72 (38 percent) from the field. Normally a strong- suit for the "blue and white" Notre Dame struggled from downtown. The Falcons were just 3 of 14 (21%) from beyond the arc. The Falcons on again, off again free throw woes returned Friday. NDC was only 54% (15 of 28) at the charity stripe. The Falcons did win the rebounding battle 47-40. Normally very good at sharing the basketball, NDC only managed 6 assists on 27 made field goals Friday.

The Crusaders had three players tally 20 + points in their upset win. Kevin Henry led the way with 21 points to go along with six assists. Bryant Slaughter and Geoff Gaylor netted 20 points each. The Crusaders were 28 of 59 (48%) from the field, including a sizzling 15 for 28 (54%) in the second half. Madonna was 6 of 18 (33%) from three point land which gave them a +9 on the evening from long range. The Crusaders were 15-24 (64%) at the foul line. The Crusaders prevailed despite committing 20 turnovers. The final day of the 2009 State Farm Classic will be Saturday. Notre Dame College will face Michigan Dearborn at Noon, Rochester College will take on the hosts from Madonna at 2:30 to follow.

Adrian Snaps Falcons Streak at Seven!!

The Adrian Bulldogs(2-4) handed the Notre Dame Falcons(7-1) their first loss of the 2009 season 58-53 on Saturday. The Bulldogs had two players tally double figures. Jovon Mosley had 14 and Wesley Reed added 12 for Adrian (Mich).

For the first time in eight games Eric Dummermuth did not lead the Falcons in scoring. Notre Dame had three players in double digits. Curtis Mclure led the way with 12 for the "blue and white", Dummermuth netted 11, and Al Miller rounded out the double figure scorers with 10.

The Falcons outshot the Bulldogs from the floor (45% to 39%). The biggest difference in the game was the three point shooting. Adrian was 9 of 23 (39%) with Reed going 4 for 7 from long range and Mosley 3 of 6 from distance. NDC was only 1-10 in treys. Nick McCartney normally the Falcons top three pointer shooter was 0 of 4 beyond the arc and was held to just 6 points. Both teams struggled at the charity stripe. The Falcons were 10 of 16 (63%) while the Bulldogs were 9-15 (60%). The Bulldogs won the battle of the boards 36-28. Each team had the lead 5 times in a back and forth affair. The Falcons will look to return to their winning ways Friday night when they face Madonna (Mich)(1-8) in a 8 PM tip in the Madonna classic.

Dummermuth Leads Falcons to Seventh Straight!!

On a night when second leading scorer Nick McCartney could not find his range, Eric Dummermuth picked up the slack in the Notre Dame Falcons 70-56 win against Malone at Murphy Gymnasium Wednesday. Dummermuth, the Falcons super Sophomore from Dover, OH was 11 of 17 from the floor and 11 of 13 at the charity stripe to net a career high 33 points. Phil Biggs was a perfect 6 for 6 from the floor for his season high 12 points. McCartney who is the second leading scorer for Notre Dame at 11 points a ball game did not hit a shot from the floor and was held to 5 points. Notre Dame had a very good shooting night going 26 of 53 (49%) from the floor. The "blue and white" struggled from three point land going just 2 of 10. They were 16 of 22 (73%) from the charity stripe in winning for the second straight game in conference play.

Malone fell to 2-4 on the season. The Pioneers had a pair of players in double figures. Ebiowei Porbeni led Malone with 17 points on 8 of 11 shooting. The Pioneers leading scorer Eric Coblentz had 11 for the visitors. Coblentz was only 3 off 13 from the floor and could not find his touch from long range, going just 2 of 10 for the Pioneers. Vaso Aleksic led the Pioneers with 12 rebounds. Malone was 21 of 54 from the floor (39%) including just 8 of 27 (30 %) in the second half. Malone was 5 of 23 (22%) from long distance. The Pioneers did not help themselves going 9 of 14 (64%) at the foul line.

The two teams played even for a half. Malone had the lead twice and the score was tied twice in the first half. Malone's first lead was at 17-16 midway thru the first half. Led by Dummermuth the Falcons would take a 26-21 lead with 5:18 in the opening half. The Pioneers would make a mini run at the end of the half and the Falcons would have a 33-32 lead going into the locker room. The Falcons would come out hot in the second half and a Will Townsend transition bucket with 14:42 in the game would give NDC a 9 point lead at 45-36. The Falcons made their first 11 shots of the second half. The Pioneers would make another run though and with 8:30 minutes to go the Falcons lead was cut to three 51-48 on a traditional three point play by Ebioewi Pobleni. It looked as this one would go down to the wire as Malone would cut the lead to 57-56 at the 2 minute mark. The Falcons would score the final 13 points in the game for the 70-56 victory.

The Pioneers would win the rebounding battle 39-28. The Falcons would have 13 turnovers that cost them 20 points. The Pioneers had 21 turnovers that cost them 27 points. Notre Dame was plus ten with a 36-26 edge on points in the paint. The Pioneers had a 7 point edge (15-8) on second chance points. The Falcons had a big edge in transition. Notre Dame had a 14-2 edge in fast break points. The Pioneers dominated the bench scoring outscoring the Falcons 27-10. The Falcons will be back in action Saturday for a 4 PM tip against the Bulldogs from Adrian (Mich) (2-6) at Murphy Gymnasium.