Dec 6, 2003
Notre Dame Central Michigan Box Score
By TOM COYNE
AP Sports Writer
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) – Joe Carr hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key just before the buzzer to give Central Michigan a 69-68 victory over No. 23 Notre Dame on Saturday night.
The Chippewas (2-4) led almost the entire game until Chris Thomas banked in a 14-foot jumper to give the Irish a 60-59 lead with 2:04 left. After Chris Quinn made a pair of free throws, Thomas hit a 15-foot jumper to give Notre Dame a 64-59 lead with 29 seconds left.
But Kevin Nelson, who led Central Michigan with 17 points, made a 3-pointer with 19 seconds left to cut the lead to 64-62. Notre Dame (2-2) could have iced the game at the free throw line, but Quinn missed one of two with 18.7 seconds left and Jordan Cornette made just one of two with 3.8 seconds left to put the Irish up 68-66.
Carr dribbled the ball up court, stopped at the top of the key and hit his first 3-pointer of the game. He shot just 2-for-7 from the field for the game.
Brandon Vorhees added 13 points for Central Michigan and Gerrrit Brigitha, who is from nearby Niles, Mich., added nine.
Thomas led the Irish with 24 points. Quinn scored 13, Colin Falls had 11 and Torin Francis added 10. The Irish were without top defender Torrian Jones, who was out with an injured hip, and Tom Timmermans, who has an injured back.
Despite playing its sixth game in 13 days, the Chippewas never looked tired. They took charge from the start, making six of seven shots to take a 13-4 lead. Brigitha scored seven points during the run as Central Michigan held Notre Dame to 1-of-6 shooting.
Central Michigan continued its hot shooting through much of the first half. The Chippewas were 14-of-20 shooting, or 70 percent, when Adam Dentlinger hit a 14-foot baseline jumper to give them a 31-25 lead with 4:51 left in the half. The Chippewas shot 41.7 percent for the game.
The Irish, who shot 35.8 percent, cut the lead to 31-29 when Quinn, who missed his first four shots, made a 10-foot jumper. But Kevin Nelson it a pair of 3-pointers in the final minute and Central Michigan led 37-31 at halftime.
The Irish, who were beaten 71-58 by No. 24 Marquette on Monday, tied the score five times in the second half, twice on 3-pointers by Falls, once on a 3-pointer by Quinn and twice on free throws by Thomas and Francis – but couldn’t take the lead until Thomas banked in his shot.