FAIRMONT, W.Va. – Isaiah Sanders netted 25 points while Fonz Hale added 18 points on four 3-pointers as the Fairmont State men's basketball team (18-5 overall, 13-4 MEC) defeated Notre Dame (Ohio) (14-9, 10-7 MEC) 88-69 in a battle at Joe Retton Arena on Wednesday (Feb. 8) night.
 
Sanders led the Fighting Falcons with 25 points and collected six rebounds in the victory. Hale went 4-for-5 from the 3-point line and 4-for-4 from the charity stripe to finish the game with 18 points. George Mangas scored 12 points after making 6-of-7 attempts from the field. Briggs Parris knocked down a pair of triples and finished with 11 points. 
 
Zyon Dobbs was a game-wrecker and shifted the momentum with four blocks that sparked a key 16-2 scoring run in the second half. The Fairmont, W.Va. native added five boards and a pair of assists to go along with nine points. David Jolinder played some big minutes and chipped in nine points and three assists. Tariq Woody led Fairmont State with seven rebounds and passed two assists.
 
Sanders connected on his first attempt on the night with a 3-pointer to set the tone. Mangas and Dobbs grabbed two buckets apiece to even the score at 10-10 with 14:38 to play in the first half. Hale finished two buckets from behind the arc to put the Fighting Falcons up 16-10. Jolinder finished a dunk off an assist from Sanders before Hale knocked down his third and fourth 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to push the Fairmont State lead to 27-12. Sanders completed a three point play and added a three with 9:10 to go in the first period. Sanders continued to make shots and swished a three and a layup that extended the home team's lead. NDC trimmed the Fairmont State lead to 11 points after a scoring run. Both Hale and Mangas were able to convert on a pair of buckets that increased the lead to 42-27 with 4:30 remaining. After six free throws in the final three minutes of the half, Fairmont State led 52-34. NDC finished the half with a three and Fairmont State led 52-37 at the break. 
 
Notre Dame came out strong with two buckets to make the score 52-41. After exchanging rounds of free throws, the score settled at 56-47. Multiple blocks by Dobbs led to buckets by Woody and Mangas with 14:27 to play with a 60-47 score. Woody came back with another strong basket before Jolinder drained a three to continue Fairmont State's offensive trek. Dobbs kept the run going with a layup, and Parris scored a three the next possession, which forced an NDC timeout after a 16-2 Fairmont State run. FSU was able to earn stops defensively which increased the lead to a 30-point margin, which was the largest lead of the night. Fairmont State completed the season sweep of Notre Dame (Ohio) and won 88-69. 
 
Fairmont State will travel to Alderson Broaddus on Saturday (Feb. 11). Tipoff is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.