Dec 1, 2001

Notre Dame at DePaul Box Score

By NANCY ARMOUR
AP Sports Writer

CHICAGO – Ryan Humphrey had a double-double by halftime and finished with 18 points and 16 rebounds as Notre Dame routed DePaul 82-55, improving to 7-0 for the first time since 1979-80.

Harold Swanagan gave the Irish another double-double, scoring 16 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in the second game of the Classic 4Kids. David Graves added 14 points, and Chris Thomas had 12 and five assists.

The game was DePaul and Notre Dame’s first meeting since December 1994, the resumption of a rivalry that’s featured plenty of memorable games. Like the 1978 Midwest Regional final, when the Irish upset No. 3 DePaul 84-64 to advance to their first Final Four.

Or the Feb. 27, 1980, game. No. 1 DePaul took a 25-0 record to South Bend, only to have Orlando Woolridge make two free throws with 19 seconds left to give the Irish a 76-74 victory in double overtime.

This game, however, won’t be remembered for much. Despite some gaudy talent, DePaul has struggled the last two years. And it was no different Saturday as they were no match for the bigger, faster, more physical Irish.

Andre Brown led the Blue Demons with 17 points, and Sam Hoskin had 11. But Imari Sawyer and Lance Williams combined for just seven points, with Williams not scoring until five minutes into the second half. The Blue Demons managed just 30 percent shooting, and were outrebounded 50-46.

Defensively, DePaul’s biggest problem was Humphrey, the current Big East player of the week. He dominated the Blue Demons inside and on the boards. When he hit a hook shot and followed it with a rebound at the other end, it gave him 11 points and 10 rebounds.

And there was still 3:23 left in the first half.

The game was essentially over five minutes into it, as Notre Dame opened with a 14-4 run. The Irish extended their lead to 24-10 on Humphrey’s slam of a Thomas miss with 11:27 left.

The Irish hit a short lull, missing on six straight possessions. But the Blue Demons couldn’t take advantage, scoring only three points – all on free throws.

DePaul did manage to get the lead under double digits before halftime, as Brown’s putback made it 27-18 with 5:14 left in the first period. But Notre Dame came roaring back, with Carroll’s jumper sparking a 9-0 run.

Thomas capped the run with a steal off Sawyer and a slam, giving Notre Dame a 36-18 lead with 2:54 to play. Brown finally ended the run with a dunk, but Humphrey answered right back, converting on a three-point play.

The second half wasn’t any better for DePaul, even though Humphrey went the first seven minutes without a basket. Swanagan and Graves picked up the slack, combining for an 8-3 run that gave the Irish a 49-30 lead with 17:41 left.