Trifecta
Falcons top Malone & move into a three-way tie for first
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SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – Notre Dame defeated Malone College Tuesday to move into a three-way tie for first place in the North Division of the American Mideast Conference (AMC).  The Falcons downed the Pioneers, 81-64, after leading by as many as 35 points in the second half.

Four Falcons finished in double-figures, and NDC played solid defense, as Notre Dame turned back the No. 27 team in the nation.

Notre Dame (13-14, 6-3) came out strong in the first. The Falcons took an 18-13 lead at 12:10 when sophomore center Karim McFarlane (Portmore, Jamaica) knocked down a jumper in the paint. Malone's Tyler Renner (Sr/Sugarcreek, OH) then keyed a 10-1 run for the Pioneers to give them a 23-19 lead by the nine-minute mark.

The Falcons then wrested the lead away at 7:54 on a Jerome Pierce (Sr/Toledo, OH) triple and went on to take a 39-30 lead into their Keller Center locker room at the half. Pierce connected for a team-high 16 points in the opening frame.

Notre Dame extended their lead to 13 (52-39) at 14:04 on a 3-point play by junior guard Kyle Miller (Piketon, OH).  A dunk and a drive later, NDC was in command, 58-40.  Pierce found McFarlane down the middle of the lane for a dunk at the 13-minute mark.  Moments later, after an NDC press forced a Pioneer turnover, Pierce connected with Dan Jones (Jr/Niles, OH) under the basket for another easy two.

Jones gave the Blue & Gold a 24-point lead on a 3-point play at 9:26.  The Niles, Ohio product finished with seven points on the night.

Notre Dame’s defense drove their success in the second, as the Falcons opened up a 25-point, then a 35-point lead.  The Blue & Gold forced 20 turnovers for the game, leading to 25 points.  They held Malone (19-8, 6-3) to a 41.8 percent (23-for-55) mark from the field.  Several defensive hustle plays kept the Pioneers out of an offensive rhythm and led to easy Falcon baskets.

On their end of the floor, the Falcons shot 43.5 percent (30-for-69) for the game.  Jerome Pierce led the Falcon effort with a 26-point night.  Pierce also collected seven assists and four steals.  Karim McFarlane garnered 14 points and 12 rebounds for his 12th double-double of the season and fifth in a row.  Kyle Miller scored 18.  Sophomore center Danny Wright (Collins, OH) scored a season-high 10 points while hauling down six rebounds.

For the game, NDC out-rebounded Malone, 38-37 and won the turnover battle, 20-10.

Tyler Renner scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Pioneers, who have now lost two straight.  Tuesday win marks NDC’s first-ever against Malone, who came to College Road with a 5-0 mark against the Falcons.

Notre Dame has now won three straight.  They’ll take that streak into the regular season finale Saturday, when they host Daemen College (NY).  Tipoff is slated for 4:00pm.    
  

NOTES FROM THE NEST...

SENIOR MOMENT: Senior point guard Jerome Pierce (Toledo, OH) garnered four steals in Tuesday's victory over Malone. One of three NDC tri-captains this season, Pierce now has 200 career thefts, which pushed him past Dave Hilborn (196 career steals) and into first place on the Falcons' all-time list. Pierce is already Notre Dame's all-time leading scorer (2,205 points) and leading assist man (468 assists). ... Pierce and fellow seniors Keith Bowden (Akron, OH) and Casey McNeill (Ocala, FL) were honored prior to Tuesday's as part of the program's Senior Night.

TURNING THE TIDE: NDC forced 20 turnovers against Malone.  They committed just 10 on their end; the plus-10 turnover margin marks their best single-game total since Dec. 18.  The Falcons have come out on the plus-side of the turnover ledger in five of their last six games.