Postgame Audio
Head Coach Brey | Head Coach Al Skinner
Feb. 21, 2001
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Martin Ingelsby hit an off-balance 15-foot jumper with 3.7 seconds left to give No. 18 Notre Dame a 76-75 victory over No. 10 Boston College on Wednesday night.
The Eagles had one last chance to tie it, but as Troy Bell dribbled across midcourt David Graves knocked the ball away from behind. Students ran out onto the court to celebrate the victory.
Troy Murphy had 23 points for the Irish (18-6, 10-3), who edged closer to a possible league title, moving two games ahead of Syracuse in the West Division with three games left.
Bell had 15 points and nine rebounds for the Eagles (19-4, 10-3), who remained in first place in the league’s East Division, a game ahead of Providence.
Boston College led much of the first half and was ahead 39-34 at halftime. But the Irish opened the second half with a 14-0 run, hitting three 3-pointers and converting on a three-point play, to open a 48-39 lead.
The Irish led by as many as 61-50 when Murphy hit a pair of free throws midway through the second half. But the Eagles later used a 6-0 run to cut the lead to 71-69 on a 3-pointer by Ryan Sidney.
Sidney converted on a three-point play with 2:01 left to give the Eagles a 75-73 lead. But the Eagles didn’t score again. Murphy hit a free throw with 1:28 left. Kenny Harley missed a shot with 23 seconds left and the Irish called time to set up the last play.
Boston College did a good job of denying Murphy the ball, especially in the first half when he shot 4-of-12 from the field, including two 3-pointers. Murphy was 13-of-18 from the free-throw line.
Matt Carroll had his first career double-double as he had 17 points and 11 rebounds for Notre Dame. Humphrey had 15 points, four rebounds and six blocked shots and Ingelsby scored 10.
Harley scored 14 points and Kenny Walls added 13 for the Eagles.
The Irish had some problems with the Eagles’ pressure, especially in the first half, turning the ball over 14 times in the opening 20 minutes. They finished with 20 turnovers, two off their season high.
The action was frenetic at times. Jere Macura, a 6-foot-9 forward for the Irish, appeared to have an easy layup, but the 6-1 Bell blocked the shot. The Eagles raced to the other end and appeared to have a wide-open 15-foot jumper, but Macura leapt up and blocked Bell’s shot.
The play was physical at times, too, with Murphy getting upset at some hard fouls, and Bell getting upset when Murphy fouled him hard.
The 18 regular-season victories are the most for the Irish since they won 20 during the 1988-89 season, the last time Notre Dame won a NCAA tournament game.