Falcons Let One Slip Away.

The Notre Dame Falcons had a 8 point lead with 51 seconds to go in regulation but could not hang on Thursday night at Roberts Wesleyan. The Falcons ultimately fell in overtime 84-77.

Three Falcons scored in double figures on the night as Notre Dame fell to 9-14 and 4-7 in the AMC. Eric Dummermuth had 26 points and 11 boards. Dummermuth was just 4 of 9 at the foul line. Taylor Reiger added a career high 23 points while Curtis McClure added 15 and 11 rebounds. All three players missed crucial free throws late. The Falcons shot 42% from the field. They went 5-11 (46%) from three point land. NDC lost the game at the foul line where they were 16-32 (50%). They also turned the ball over 20 times.

The Raiders improved to 12-11 and 6-6 in the AMC with the improbable win at the Voller Athletic Center. Four players for Wesleyan scored in double figures. William Kemp-Harris had 18 points. Alif Bland netted 17, Dan Foley chipped in 16 and Heath Jordan had 14 for the Raiders. The Raiders shot 45% from the field and were a frigid 1-14 from three point land. RWC was 25-32 (78%) at the charity stripe. The Raiders won the battle of the boards 46-42 and had 21 miscues.

The teams would play even basketball in the first nearly 11 minutes. Troy Baugh would hit a jumper for the Falcons to tie the game at 19 with 9:22 in the opening stanza. The two teams would have a pair of ties and a couple lead changes before RWC would take a 34-32 halftime lead.

The second half would start with NDC opening up a 4 point lead (46-42) on a Reiger jumper with 12:44 to go. RWC would come back and knot the game at 48 on a Brent Owens jumper with 9:23 to go. NDC would then go on a 5-0 run before the Raiders would fight back. The Falcons would then open up a 8 point lead on a McClure free throw with 1:44 to go. After a Heath Jordan jumper a McClure tip in looked to put the Falcons in command with 51 seconds left up 8. Alif Brand would cut it to 6 for the Raiders. NDC would get 1 of 2 free throws from McClure to go back up 7 (65-58) with 34 seconds left. Rodney Mickens fouled Dan Foley with 27 seconds to go. Foley hit both free throws to cut it to 65-60. Taylor Reiger spilt a pair at the charity stripe and it was 66-60. Alif Brand would hit a jumper with 20 seconds to go and the lead was down to 4. Dummermuth then split a pair at the line. The Raiders would have Rashaad Stokelin miss a layup but a tip in by Kemp-Harris would cut the lead to 3 with 9 seconds. Nate Ensz was called for a foul after the free throw but it was another crucial play by Bland as he tied it on a traditional three point play with 6 seconds left. McClure had a clear shot for the win but could not get the layup to go.

The overtime was all Raiders as they out scored the Falcons 17-10. After a pair of ties the Raiders went on a 5-0 run. The Falcons would cut it to three but that is as close as they would get and RWC would steal the 84-77 run.

NDC will be back in action Saturday at 4 PM when they will face the top ranked Cavaliers of Walsh 23-0 (12-0 AMC).