Third-quarter spurt carries Notre Dame past Jackson

In a game that mostly featured defense, Notre Dame delivered a decent-sized run midway through the game.

The Bulldogs opened the second half on an 8-0 run and rode the momentum past visiting Jackson 56-45 on Friday night.

Both teams' defenses were impressive throughout, with Notre Dame using its press and the Indians (9-5, 0-2) making it tough on Jacob Tolbert.

"Our No. 1 key was to press," Bulldogs senior guard Nick Koeppel said. "If they can't score, they can't win."

Jackson coach Darrin Scott said, "We wanted to limit Tolbert's touches, get it out of his hands and keep the other guys out of the paint."

Notre Dame's Jacob Tolbert drives into Jackson's Kyle Keith on his way to the hoop during their game Friday at Notre Dame. (LAURA SIMON)

The two teams traded runs early with Notre Dame ending the first on a Tolbert layup to take a 14-11 lead.

The second quarter was more of the same, filled with errant passes and poor outside shooting by both teams.

The Bulldogs (11-4, 2-1 SEMO Conference) gained a little separation at 21-14 midway through the second, but the Indians closed to 22-21.

Another layup at the buzzer, this time by Matt Helle, gave the Bulldogs a 26-23 halftime advantage.

Tolbert had 10 of his game-high 17 points in the first half, but Jackson's Zach McDowell gave him all he could handle down low.

Jackson defender Zach McDowell, second from right, blocks a shot by Notre Dame's Matt Helle during their game Friday night at Notre Dame. (LAURA SIMON)

McDowell used his physical style of play to make it tough on Tolbert.

"It was his best game of the season," Scott said of McDowell. "He came out and competed, stepped up and took the challenge of guarding Tolbert. He did a good job of fronting him and denying the ball and then working hard to get back around him. Plus our help side was good."

Tolbert knew it was going to be physical.

"I just tried to be physical back," Tolbert said. "Go strong to the hole."

Notre Dame coach Kevin Roberts said not only did Tolbert's points help the Bulldogs, but his presence on the court opened up the game for his teammates.

"He's a threat even away from the basket," Roberts said. "They focused their attention on him. It gave others the opportunity because they [Jackson] didn't want to help off of him. When they did, he either scored or got fouled. That's his job."

The Bulldogs pounced early after the intermission.

Liam Maher and Luciano Starling hit back-to-back shots and Tolbert had a basket and converted a foul shot to make it 33-23 before Jackson called a timeout.

The run gave Notre Dame its largest lead of the night at that point.

"We got some easy baskets," Roberts said. "We had some steals and didn't have to run our half-court offense. It gave us a lot of momentum."

Scott said, "We had the ball to start and had some good looks. We missed, they came down and scored. In this game, a 10-point lead was huge."

Jackson struggled to cut into the lead, drawing to 40-32 heading into the final quarter.

Koeppel stepped up in the fourth.

Koeppel, the only returning senior that started last season, made his presence felt in the final quarter by scoring nine of his 11 points.

"When Nick looks to score, it adds another threat," Roberts said. "And he can score."

Koeppel opened the fourth with a basket, but Jackson's Tyler Rhodes buried his second 3-pointer of the game to bring Jackson within seven, 42-35 just minutes into the quarter.

But the Indians would get no closer than seven.

"Things at the start of the third were tough," Scott said. "I was proud we battled. We didn't let the lead slip and we gave ourselves a chance to compete."

Jackson 11 12 9 13 -- 45

Notre Dame 14 12 14 16 -- 56

JACKSON (45) -- Caleb Newcomer 2, Taylor Williams 3, Tyler Rhodes 6, Zach McDowell 11, Eli Gohn 5, Henrie Williams 8, Bobby Clark 8. FG 15, FT 10-18, F 21. (3-pointers: Williams, Rhodes 2. Fouled out: McDowell)

NOTRE DAME (56) -- Nick Koeppel 11, Liam Maher 10, Ke-Ke Kellum 1, Alex Carroll 4, Luciano Starling 3, Jacob Tolbert 17, Matt Helle 10. FG 18, FT 19-30, F 16. (3-pointers: Carroll. Fouled out: none)