Nov. 26, 2012
Box Score | Notre Dame Chicago State Box Score
NOTRE DAME, Ind. (AP) – Jerian Grant scored 22 points to lead red-hot Notre Dame to a 92-65 win over Chicago State on Monday night inside Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center.
The Irish (6-1) took a 51-32 lead into the break, thanks largely to their blistering accuracy from 3-point land. They hit 10 of 16 3-point attempts in the first half, a 62.5-percent clip.
Scott Martin and Cameron Biedscheid each hit 3 of 5 3-point attempts for the Irish. They finished 12 of 22, or 55 percent, from behind the arc, and 61 percent overall.
Grant hit a strong baseline drive and drew a foul, then made the free throw, to give Notre Dame its then-biggest lead, 42-27, with 3:20 to go in the half. Moments later, he stole an inbound pass near the top of the Chicago State key and drove the length of the floor for an electrifying windmill dunk.
Clarke Rosenberg led the Cougars (1-6) with 16 points.
Notre Dame will play host to No. 8/8 Kentucky on Thursday in the SEC/BIG EAST Challenge. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. (ET) inside Purcell Pavilion. The game can be seen on ESPN2.
Notre Dame Postgame Notes
– Tonight was the second meeting all-time between Notre Dame and Chicago State … the Irish have won both contests
– Notre Dame scored a season-high 92 points … those were the most points for the Irish since a 106-65 victory over Sacred Heart on Dec. 19, 2011
– The 27-point margin of victory matched a season-best total that the Irish also achieved against Monmouth (84-57)
– Notre Dame had three players record double-doubles (Jerian Grant 22 points, 10 assists; Eric Atkins 13 points, 11 assists; Jack Cooley 11 points, 11 rebounds) … that’s the first time the Irish had three double-double performers since Nov. 17, 2010 … that game also was against Chicago State
– The Irish had six double-digit scorers (Jerian Grant 22, Eric Atkins 13, Garrick Sherman 12, Jack Cooley 11, Scott Martin 11, Pat Connaughton 10) for the first time since Feb. 12, 2011 (vs. USF)
– Notre Dame made a season-high 12 three-pointers (on 22 attempts) … the Irish made 10 treys in the first half (on 16 attempts) … their previous high for an entire game this season was 10 (vs. Saint Joseph’s) … tonight’s 12 three-pointers were the most since the Irish registered 12 against Villanova on Feb. 18, 2012
– The 10 first-half three-pointers were the most in any half for the Irish since they made 11 in the first half against Villanova on Feb. 28, 2011
– Notre Dame had a season-high 26 assists (on 36 field goals)
– The Fighting Irish shot a season-best 61.0% (36-59) from the field … it’s the first time Notre Dame was 60% or above from the field since Feb. 22, 2012, when the Irish shot 61.4% (27-44) against West Virginia
– Notre Dame outscored Chicago State 42-14 in the paint
– Notre Dame led 51-32 at halftime … the Irish are 5-0 this season when leading at the intermission … the 51 points were a season-high total for any half this season … the previous high was 49 in the second half against Monmouth
– The Irish shot 65.4% (17-26) from the field in the first half … that is the best shooting percentage in any half this season for Notre Dame
– Eric Atkins (Jr./G), Pat Connaughton (So./G), Jack Cooley (Sr./F), Jerian Grant (Jr./G) and Scott Martin (GS/G) started tonight’s contest … the Irish are 5-1 this season with that starting lineup and 16-5 over the past two campaigns … Atkins, Connaughton, Grant and Cooley have started every game this season
– Scott Martin (GS/G) returned to the lineup tonight after missing Saturday’s game against Saint Francis due to knee soreness
– Notre Dame is 105-7 in its last 112 home games and 40-1 in the last 41 home contests … the Irish have won 11 straight home games
– Notre Dame has won 23 consecutive non-conference home games and the Irish are 64-1 in their last 65 non-league home contests
– The Irish improved to 45-0 at home in the month of November under head coach Mike Brey … as a program, Notre Dame has won 48 straight home games in November
– A three-pointer from Scott Martin in the first half upped Notre Dame’s streak of consecutive games with a made three-pointer to 449
Eric Atkins (Jr./G)
– Notched his second career double-double with 13 points and a career-high 11 assists
– Scored in double-figures for the second straight game and for the fourth time this season … he has 32 career double-digit scoring efforts
– Had no turnovers
Pat Connaughton (So./G-F)
– Scored in double-figures (10 points) for the third time this season and for the 12th time in his career
Jack Cooley (Sr./F)
– Notched his team-best fifth double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds … it was the 18th double-double of his career
– Scored in double-figures for the sixth time this season and for the 29th time in his career
– Hauled down 10 or more rebounds for the fifth time this season and for the 20th time in his career
Jerian Grant (Jr./G)
– Posted his second career double-double with 22 points and a career-high 10 assists … the 22 points matched a career-high total that he also had against DePaul on Feb. 11, 2012
– Scored in double-figures for the fifth straight game (a team-best streak this season) and for the sixth time this season … he has 32 career double-digit scoring efforts
Scott Martin (GS/G)
– Scored in double-figures (11 points) for the second time this season and for the 52nd time in his career (38th time at Notre Dame)
Garrick Sherman (Sr./C)
– Scored in double-figures (12 points) for the third straight game and for the fourth time this season … it is the first time in his career that he’s reached double-figures in three straight games … he has five career double-digit scoring efforts