Sayles-less Dons suffer first loss of season to Ebube, Mundelein

In their Valentine's Day matinee on Sunday, the short-handed Dons of Notre Dame suffered their first loss of the season, 51-42 to Mundelein.

The Mustangs were led by their 6-foot-9 senior center Scottie Ebube who dominated the glass with his 16 rebounds on the afternoon.

Obube scored 14 points for his double double, including a monster slam to close out the game.

For undisclosed reasons, Notre Dame's all-area point guard Anthony Sayles was missing in action.

From the middle of the third quarter and into the fourth, the visiting Mustangs (4-1) went on a 14-0 run erasing a 31-27 Dons lead and giving the Mustangs a 41-31 lead with 5:55 remaining in the game.

The short-handed Dons did not quit.

Harvard-bound Louis Lesmond's bucket was followed by a long range three-point bomb from SIU-bound Troy D'Amico (nine points) to pull the Dons within 41-36 with 4:48 left.

With Mundelein up 43-38, Dons junior Jake Georgoulis' steal lead to two D'Amico free throws, pulling the Dons within three, 43-40, with 3:32 left.

With 2:04 left, Georgoulis picked up his second steal and after a Dons misfire, senior Jake DeFranza drew a huge charge with 1:43 left.

The Dons continued to misfire.

With his Mustangs up 43-40 with 46.1 seconds left, junior Ty Moenning, scored his only two points of the game. Facing a crucial one-one, Moenning buried both free throws to give Mundelein a 45-40 lead.

Lesmond scored with 30 seconds left to bring the Dons back to within 45-42.

Mundelein's Trey Baker hit two free throws and then his steal and score gave the Mustangs a 49-42 lead and Ebube's slam at the buzzer ended the Valentine Day's festivities in Niles.

Mundelein senior Connor Enright chipped in with 15 points for the Mustangs.

Lesmond scored a game-high 22 points for the Dons, including a pair of 25-foot three-pointers in both the second and third quarters for N.D. (4-1)

"This was a disappointing loss for us," Lesmond said. "We just have to bounce back on Tuesday. I should have been able to get more rebounds and to score inside as well."

"We had taken a 31-27 lead midway through the third quarter," Notre Dame coach Kevin Clancy said. "We were playing very well and Mundelein hits us with a 14-0 run. They are good and Obube was so tough to handle. Troy wore down trying to guard Obube and it hurt his offensive game.

"Louis hit some threes from long range, but give Mundelein credit for defending the three-point line in the fourth quarter. We have to bounce back on Tuesday in a huge East Suburban Catholic Conference game at St.Pat's. Our goal from the beginning was to repeat as ESCC champs."