Feb 3, 2002

Notre Dame at Seton Hall Box Score

By TOM CANAVAN
AP Sports Writer

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Chris Thomas scored on a breakaway layup with 5.8 seconds to play to give Notre Dame a 63-61 victory over Seton Hall on Sunday.

David Graves had 20 points and Ryan Humphrey had 11 points, 10 rebounds and the long pass that set up Thomas’ game winner in helping the Irish (15-6, 5-3 Big East) win their third straight.

Darius Lane had 17 points and center Charles Manga added 14 points and 12 rebounds as Seton Hall (11-10, 4-5) lost to the Irish for the second time in just over a week.

Manga, who hit his first 3-pointer of the season to help Seton Hall rally from a seven-point halftime deficit, had an open 3-pointer bounce off the rim at the buzzer.

The end was as bizarre as the game that featured seven ties and six lead changes in the second half.

Seton Hall appeared to be in control with the score tied at 61 after Humphrey missed a floater in the lane with under a minute to go.

After John Allen had a shot blocked, Seton Hall maintained possession with 39.1 seconds left in the game and 28 seconds on the shot clock.

Seton Hall worked the shot clock down, but it waited too long, forcing point guard Andre Barrett to take an off-balance shot on a drive down the left side of the lane.

The rebound was tipped in the air and all the Pirates went for the ball. Humphrey got it and he tossed it to Thomas for a layup on a 2-on-0 situation.

After two time outs, the Pirates got the ball to Allen, who found Manga for his open 3-pointer that looked good when it left his hands.

The game was played in spurts with Seton Hall jumping to a 15-2 lead in the opening seven minutes. Notre Dame didn’t get its first basket until Harold Swanagan scored on a rebound follow with 11:28 to go.

Notre Dame outscored Seton Hall 28-11 the rest of the half in building a 33-26 lead. Humphrey led the way with nine points.

Manga’s 3-pointer at the start of the second half ignited a 10-point run that made it a game the rest of the way. Neither team led by more than six points in the final 8:27, a 53-47 Notre Dame lead.

Seton Hall tied the game at 55, 59 and 61, but it never got the lead again.

Thomas and Matt Carroll added 10 points apiece for Notre Dame, which was playing its first road game in 19 days.

Barrett finished with nine points and nine rebounds. Allen had 10.