FAIRMONT, W.Va. - The Fairmont State University men's basketball team returned to Joe Retton Arena to face Notre Dame College. Trailing at the half, Fairmont State battled back and was victorious, 87-81.

Tommy Williams scored a game-high 31 points with a hot hand from three, going 9-14 from behind the arc. 

Both teams matched the other for the first five minutes of the game. Threes from Williams and Cameron Whiteside gave Fairmont State (19-7, 11-7) a 16-11 lead. Notre Dame (13-12, 8-11) squared the game at 16  as the lead changes started to become abundant.

With a little over three minutes left in the first half, the visitors score eight-consecutive points to take a seven-point lead (36-29). Williams scored six of the next eight points to narrow the deficit to three (38-35) before Notre Dame made two free throws to close out the half in front, 40-35.

In the second half, Fairmont State continued its strong shooting performance especially behind the arc to eventually take the lead, 48-45. The visitors evened the score but FSU regained control of the game and made it a five-point (54-49) difference.

NDC stayed within striking distance as it made the deficit just two (57-55) before Zyon Dobbs and Williams buried back-to-back three-point shots. Notre Dame made a one possession game (three points) on multiple occasions but the Falcons were solidi from the charity stripe down the stretch. 

Over the final four minutes of regulation, Fairmont State was 6-8 from the free throw line to lock down the six-point win.

David Jolinder and Dobbs each finished with 19 points as Whiteside added nine points and eight assists. As a team, FSU shot 55.6% (30-54) from the field and 58.33% (16-30) from three-point range.

Fairmont State hits the road on Wednesday, February 28 to face West Virginia Wesleyan at 7:30 p.m.