Meystedt leads Notre Dame past Saxony

Notre Dame wasted no time in breaking out the shock and awe from its big man Friday night, but it was a steady performance from a 5-foot-10 guard that ultimately buried visiting Saxony Lutheran.

The Bulldogs never trailed after they scored on an alley-oop basket by 6-7 senior Jacob Tolbert their first trip down the floor, but it was a career-high 32 points from junior Nathan Meystedt that provided the backbone of a 73-53 victory against the Crusaders.

Tolbert, who had just seven points while fighting game-long foul trouble in a six-point loss to Charleston earlier in the week, exploded out of gate with a personal 11-0 run.

After Saxony's first shot was blocked, Tolbert grabbed a backdoor pass from Jordan Reddin around the rim and slammed it through for a 2-0 lead.

"That's definitely a set play to get him the ball and get him going early and get the crowd behind us and the momentum going," Notre Dame coach Kevin Roberts said.

Saxony Lutheran's Gus Klaus is trapped between Notre Dame's Derek Landewee, left, and Jacob Tolbert during the third quarter Friday. Check out more photos from the game in our gallery at semoball.com. (Fred Lynch)

The play worked so well the Bulldogs attempted to repeat it the next trip down the floor but quickly saw the success rate drop to 50 percent. Notre Dame (10-7) controlled the rebound and Tolbert made up for the misfire by hitting a 3-pointer for a 5-0 lead. Tolbert scored the next three times down the floor, depositing his own rebound, scoring inside and taking a fastbreak pass from Cody Heisserer for a layin and an 11-0 lead.

"That was part of us trying to come out and put them away fast," Tolbert said of his early flurry.

Saxony's turnover problems against Notre Dame's pressure defense started from the opening tip, but the Crusaders, who had eight turnovers in the first eight minutes, managed to hang with the Bulldogs on 5 of 5 shooting in the quarter.

Saxony (7-9) closed the gap to 18-15 when junior Clayton Carver closed out the first quarter with a pair of 3-pointers.

Tolbert upped the lead to 20-15 early in the second quarter when he started another 11-0 run by scoring off a rebound, but then he picked up his second offensive foul of the game with 5 minutes, 50 seconds left in the second quarter. He headed to the bench with 13 points and netted just two more points in the game.

"He's hard to stop," Meystedt said. "Not too many teams stop him. He got those quick two fouls that kind of got him out of there, but he's a great player and really got it going in the beginning. Too bad he got in foul trouble. Who knows how many he would of had."

"That's been something that's been happening quite a bit," Roberts said about Tolbert's foul problems. "You can't get in the rhythm of a game, so we kind of struggled there for a little bit until Nathan basically carried us."

Tolbert's exit merely showcased another Notre Dame weapon, which has become increasingly dangerous.

After Tolbert's loud start, Meystedt quietly scored the Bulldogs' final seven points of the first quarter, and he added eight points in the second.

"I just got some easy buckets and that always helps get in the rhythm and helped me knock down some jump shots and free throws," Meystedt said.

He had four points in the Bulldogs' 11-0 spurt that opened a 29-15 lead. Heisserer capped the run with a three-point play with 4:32 left in the half.

Meystedt, who led the Bulldogs in scoring the two previous games, had a team-high 15 points at the break with Notre Dame ahead 41-29.

Saxony had more turnovers than shots -- 17 to 12 -- in the first half. The Crusaders finished with 30 turnovers.

"We had too many turnovers to compete," Saxony coach Sam Sides said. "I just think they're physically stronger. They'd put a body on us, sometimes two. The physical play we just couldn't handle too good."

Meystedt added 17 points in the second half. He beat his previous career-best of 20 points.

"He impresses me more and more every day," Roberts said. "He just works so hard, and that's why he's a tremendous player. He'll be the first one in here on Sunday shooting, and he'll be the last one to leave on Saturday. He puts the time and effort in and that's what makes him a really good player. He's slowly becoming our best player."

Meystedt, who played JV last year, has averaged 23 points over his last three games.

Roberts said he's not surprised that Meystedt has come on strong.

"I've seen it. I knew it was there," Roberts said. "The confidence is definitely there, and it's growing game by game. He's basically put us on his shoulders the last couple games and kept us in the Charleston game and took over the Helias game and took over again tonight."

Meystedt, who scored on numerous drives to the basket, also exhibited a soft shooting touch on midrange jump shots and went 6 of 6 on free throws.

"He's really quick, athletic and handles the ball well," Tolbert said. "He can put the ball on the floor, and if you don't stop him, he can get to the rim. If you do get in front of him, he can hit that little 15-foot jump shot. He can hit it about every time."

Notre Dame's lead dropped to 10 points at the start of the second half, but the Bulldogs pulled away to a 58-38 advantage by the start of the fourth quarter.

Carver, who finished with five 3-pointers, led Saxony with 17 points. Gus Klaus added 14.

Saxony 15 14 9 15 -- 53

Notre Dame 18 23 17 15 -- 73

SAXONY LUTHERAN (53) -- Gus Klaus 14, Trent Steffens 3, Clayton Carver 17, Clay Roth 3, Matt Wills 2, Gabe Bohnert 8, Nick Johnson 6. FG 16, FT 15-19, F 17. (3-pointers: Steffens 1, Carver 5. Fouled out: none)

NOTRE DAME (73) -- Derek Landewee 3, Nathan Meystedt 32, Joseph Siebert 4, Alex Beussink 5, Andrew Lange 5, Jacob Tolbert 15, Cody Heisserer 5, Ryan Hale 2, Shawn Easley 2. FG 30, FT 10-11, F 22. (3-pointers: Landewee 1, Beussink 1, Tolbert 1. Fouled out: none)