Washington D.C. - Notre Dame of Maryland used a fast start and balanced scoring to roll past Gallaudet, 85–60, in United East Conference action Wednesday evening at the Field House in Washington, D.C.
The Gators (10–7, 3–0 United East) took control early and never trailed, building a 46–28 halftime advantage behind strong defensive pressure and efficient play in the paint. Notre Dame forced turnovers throughout the opening half and converted them into easy transition opportunities, steadily stretching the margin to as many as 19 points before the break.
Ricardo Ross led Notre Dame with 14 points, adding four assists and five rebounds, while Jackson Pugh chipped in 12 points and three assists. Anthony Wright delivered a physical presence inside, finishing with 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, as the Gators controlled the glass and held a steady edge inside.
Notre Dame's depth proved decisive, with the bench accounting for 35 points. Jahbreco Dacosta scored nine points off the bench, Arda Degirmenci added eight points and knocked down a pair of three-pointers, and Chandler Johnson and Azaan Sheikh combined for 14 points to help maintain the lead throughout the second half.
The Gators continued to apply pressure after halftime, pushing the lead past 20 midway through the second half and cruising to the conference victory. Notre Dame finished with 38 points in the paint and 29 points off turnovers, showcasing its ability to score through multiple avenues.
With the win, Notre Dame remained unbeaten in United East play and are atop the standings at 4-0. This sets up for a big showdown between the top two teams in the conference when Penn State Harrisburg comes to town on Tuesday, January 13 at 5 PM. PSU Harrisburg is currently sporting a 10-6 overall record and are tied with the Gators at 4-0 in conference play. The Nittany Lions have conference wins against Wilson, Keystone, PSU Abington, and PSU Berks; they will take on Gallaudet over the weekend before traveling to Baltimore. The two teams met for the first time in February 2025 in a game where the Gators upset Harrisburg 83-61.
