Kennesaw State Postgame Notes

Dec. 19, 2012

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Notre Dame improved to 11-1 this season … the Fighting Irish have a nine-game win streak … it’s the longest win streak for the Irish since they won nine straight games last season (Jan. 21-Feb. 22)
Tonight was the second meeting all-time between Notre Dame and Kennesaw State … the Fighting Irish have won both encounters … the first showdown was an 80-62 triumph on Nov. 24, 2009
Kennesaw State head coach Lewis Preston was an assistant coach at Notre Dame from 2000-06 … it was the first time Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey coached against one of his former assistants who is now a head coach
The win improved the Fighting Irish to 8-0 all-time against teams from the Atlantic Sun Conference
With his sixth point of the night, Scott Martin (GS/G) reached the 1,000-point milestone for his collegiate career … Martin has 728 points during his Notre Dame career … he tallied 272 points during his freshman season at Purdue
Junior point guard Eric Atkins dished out a career-high 13 assists … those were the most assists for an Irish player since Tory Jackson had 15 in an 84-71 loss to Syracuse on Jan. 18, 2010
Notre Dame shot a season-best 61.5% (32-52) from the floor … it was the highest shooting percentage for the Irish since a 62.1% (36-58) performance in a 108-62 win over Northern Illinois on Dec. 8, 2007 … it was the second time this season the Irish shot above 60% from the field (61% vs. Chicago State)
The Fighting Irish shot a season-best 86.7% (13-15) from the free throw line … the previous high was 78.6% (22-28) against BYU
The Irish held a commanding 36-17 rebound advantage … Notre Dame is 10-0 this season when outrebounding its opponent
Notre Dame had 21 assists on its 32 made field goals … it was the sixth time this season that the Irish had 20 or more assists in a game
The Irish led 34-28 at halftime … Notre Dame is 10-0 this season when leading at the intermission
Notre Dame is 109-7 in its last 116 home games and 44-1 in the last 45 home contests … the Irish have won 15 straight home games
The Fighting Irish have won 27 consecutive non-conference home games and they are 68-1 in their last 69 non-league home contests
The Irish improved to 53-7 at home in the month of December under head coach Mike Brey … Notre Dame has won 14 straight home games in December
Eric Atkins (Jr./G), Pat Connaughton (So./G), Jack Cooley (Sr./F), Scott Martin (GS/G) and Garrick Sherman (Sr./C) started tonight’s contest … it was the first time that lineup was used this season … it was the second start of the season for Sherman … Atkins, Connaughton and Cooley have started all 12 games, while Martin has 11 starts
A three-pointer from Scott Martin in the first half upped Notre Dame’s streak of consecutive games with a made three-pointer to 454

Eric Atkins (Jr./G)

Dished out a career-high 13 assists … his previous career-high was 12 against Brown (Dec. 8) … has had 10 or more assists in a game four times this season
Scored nine points and was 4-for-5 from the field

Zach Auguste (Fr./F)

Notched career-high totals in points (12) and rebounds (7) … his previous career-high for points was five against George Washington (Nov. 21) … his previous career-high for rebounds was three versus Monmouth (Nov. 12)
Was 4-for-5 from the field and 4-for-4 from the free throw line

Pat Connaughton (So./G)

Scored in double-figures (12 points) for the third straight game, which is a career-best streak
Was 5-for-7 from the field … is 12-for-16 (.750) from the floor in the last two games

Jack Cooley (Sr./F)

Notched his eighth double-double of the season (14 points & 13 rebounds) … has 21 career double-doubles
Scored in double-figures for the 11th time this season and for the 34th time in his career … has reached double-figures in points in seven straight games, which is a career-best streak
Was 5-for-6 from the field and 4-for-4 from the free throw line

Jerian Grant (Jr./G)