By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

PORTSMOUTH — In this case, inflation was a good thing.

The St. Joseph Flyers may have started flat, but their play quickly grew as they rallied to edge the Portsmouth Notre Dame Titans 64-63 Wednesday.

“We came out flat and got behind, but we got it back to one at the half,” said Flyers’ coach Jeremy Williams.

“It was a total team effort. Zack Dalton came in and did a good job the first half when we got in foul trouble. Eli and Justin did a good job guarding for us.”

Tanner Riley led the Flyers (5-5) with 25 points and seven rebounds. Payton Blair and T.J. Young each had 14 points and Justin Mahlmeister had 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Brad Pierron scored 18 points to pace Notre Dame (2-5).

Notre Dame went on an 11-2 run to start the game and led 13-9 at the end of the quarter. Riley had seven of the Flyers’ points.

Trailing 16-12, Riley scored seven more points and Mahlmeister six as the Flyers outscored the Titans 14-11 and got within 27-26 at the break.

Blair scored to put the Flyers up 34-33 midway through the third quarter. The lead exchanged hands four times before the Flyers managed to get even at 44 to end the quarter.

Riley and Young combined for 14 points in the quarter.

St. Joseph led 53-46 in the fourth quarter but the Titans rallied to take a 48-47 lead. Blair then hit a trifecta gave the Flyers the lead for good at 60-58.

“In the fourth quarter we got sloppy with the ball. We told them what (Notre Dame) was going to do but we turned it over about four times in a row,” said Williams. “We called a time out and regrouped and then we made the plays.”

Blair had 10 points in the quarter including 4 of 4 from the line.

St. Joseph 9 17 18 20 = 64

Notre Dame 13 14 17 19 = 63

IRONTON SAINT JOSEPH (5-5): Payton Blair 2 2 4-4 14, Zack Dalton 0 0 0-0 0, Eli Lewis 0 0 0-0 0, Cody Blackburn 0 0 1-2 1, Tanner Riley 5 4 3-4 25, Justin Mahlmeister 3 1 1-3 10, T.J. Young 6 0 2-2 14. Totals: 24-52 11-15 64. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: Young. 3-point goals: 7-13. Rebounds: 27 (Mahlmeister 10, Riley 7). Assists: 17 (Blair 7). Steals: 7 (Riley 3, Blair 2). Turnovers: 13. Blocked shots: 5 (Lewis 3).

PORTSMOUTH NOTRE DAME (2-5): Kevin Lewis 2 1 0-0 7, Brock Hannah 1 0 0-0 2, Tyler Noel 8 0 2-3 18, J. Kayser 0 0 0-0 0, D. Glockner 3 1 0-0 9, J. Milani 0 1 0-0 3, Jeff July 2 0 2-2 6, M. Mader 3 0 0-1 6, Cory Stevens 0 0 0-0 0, Brad Pierron 3 1 3-8 12. Totals: 26-59 7-14 63. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None. 3-point goals: 4-14. Rebounds: 24 (July 5). Assists: 11 (Lewis 4). Steals: 8 (Lewis 5). Turnovers: 9.