Jan 9, 2002

Notre Dame at West Virginia Box Score

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) – Freshman Chris Thomas sank three free throws in the final 19 seconds to lift Notre Dame past West Virginia 67-64 Wednesday night, handing the Mountaineers their fourth-straight loss.

The Irish (11-3, 1-1 Big East) stormed back from a 15-point halftime deficit with six 3-pointers in the first five minutes of the second half to tie the game at 41-41.

Notre Dame went ahead briefly for the first time, 50-47, on Jere Macura’s free throw with 6:55 remaining, but West Virginia (7-6, 0-2) regained momentum on 3-pointers by Lionel Armstead and Jonathan Hargett 40 seconds apart for a 62-56 lead with 2:03 left.

Torrian Jones’ basket with 43 seconds left tied the game at 64-64. Thomas hit a pair of free throws with 19 seconds left and, after Hargett missed a 3-point attempt, Thomas sank one more with 1.6 seconds left to finish the scoring.

West Virginia shot 51.5 percent from the floor in the first half to lead 36-21, but the Mountaineers went just 5-of-22 (22.7 percent) after halftime.

Notre Dame shot 54 percent in the second half after going 28.1 percent before halftime.

Ryan Humphrey led Notre Dame with 18 points. Thomas had 15 and Matt Carroll 14.