Nov. 26, 2004

Notre Dame Charleston Southern Box Score

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Chris Quinn scored 14 of his 17 points in the second half, Chris Thomas added 15 points and No. 21 Notre Dame held Charleston Southern to 16 points in the second half to beat the Buccaneers 54-38 on Friday night.

The 37 points were the second fewest allowed at the Joyce Center, which opened for the 1968-69 season. The record low is 35 when Notre Dame defeated Rice 50-35 on January 23, 1984. The Irish (3-0) held the Buccaneers (1-2) to just 27 percent shooting in the second half, and 33 percent for the game.

The Buccaneers tied the score at 29 on Thomas Harrison’s wide-open 3-pointer with 13:30 left. But Jordan Cornette scored on a rebound off a miss by Thomas to start a 14-0 run in which six different players scored for the Irish.

Notre Dame, which trailed by seven in the first half, extended the lead to 43-29 when Dennis Latimore scored inside. Kurtis Rice scored on a reverse layup for Charleston Southern to end a scoreless streak of 7:34.

But Quinn made a pair of 3-pointers and drove the baseline for a basket inside to give the Irish a 51-33 lead.

Kurtis scored 10 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Buccaneers, who outscored the Irish 20-18 inside and outrebounded the Irish 34-32. But the Buccaneers didn’t attempt a free throw, while the Irish were 13-of-17 from the free-throw line.

The Buccaneers kept the game close throughout the first half as Notre Dame made just 27 percent of its shots. The Irish started the game by shooting just 2-of-14, falling behind 15-8 when Thomas Harrison made a 3-pointer.

Thomas had five points as Notre Dame scored 10 straight points to move ahead 18-17. But the teams traded baskets the rest of the half and the score was 22-22 at the break.

By TOM COYNE
AP Sports Writer