Ryan Ayers and the Irish head to Madison Square Garden to take on St. John's on Friday night.

Irish Defeat Friars, 103-84

Feb. 21, 2009

Notre Dame at Providence Box Score

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) – Ryan Ayers scored 28, making seven of Notre Dame’s 13 3-pointers, as the Fighting Irish beat Providence 103-84 on Saturday.

Ayers went 6-for-8 from the 3-point line in the first half as the Irish (15-11, 6-8 Big East) sank nine of their first 12 attempts to open a 17-point first-half lead.

They cooled off in the second, making 2-of-10. But they held on to win for the third time in four games since a seven-game losing streak dropped them from seventh in the country to out of the rankings.

Weyinmi Efejuku scored a career-high 31 points and Sharaud Curry scored 23 for Providence (16-11, 8-7).

Kyle McAlarney was 4-for-6 in the first half and 0-for-5 in the second, finishing with 25 points for the Irish.