NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Notre Dame (3-1) used a strong second half to defeat William & Mary (1-3) by a final score of 73-65 on Saturday afternoon inside Purcell Pavilion in the third game of the Gotham Classic. The Irish scored 46 points in the final 20 minutes en route to the victory.
Four Irish players finished in double figures in the point column in the victory. Junior T.J. Gibbs led Notre Dame with 18 points while sophomore D.J. Harvey scored a season-high 15 points. Junior John Mooney posted 13 points and freshman Prentiss Hubb added 11.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first half was tight throughout the opening 20 minutes with neither the Irish nor the Tribe holding more than a five-point lead. Notre Dame led for the majority of the frame but a late surge from William & Mary gave the visitors a 28-27 lead at the half. Hubb led the Irish with nine points in the first half.
The two sides exchanged blows over the first 11 minutes of the second half as the lead exchanged hands a number of times before the Irish took a 50-49 lead with just over nine minutes left in regulation.
Notre Dame stepped its game up to another level over the next five minutes of play, outscoring the Tribe 14-2 over the span to open up its first double-digit lead of the game at 64-51. The Irish went on to win by a final of 73-64 to capture their third victory of the season.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Mooney recorded back-to-back double doubles for the first time in his career, finishing with 13 points and 11 rebounds in just 25 minutes of action. The forward’s 11 rebounds were the most of any Irish player on Saturday.
NOTRE DAME STAT OF THE GAME
The Irish forced William & Mary into 16 turnovers while only recording eight turnovers of their own. Notre Dame outscored the Tribe 17-2 in points off turnovers.
NOTES OF THE GAME
- The Irish improve to 2-0 against William & Mary in the all-time series.
- Notre Dame outrebounded the Tribe 40-30, marking the third time this season the Irish have outrebounded the opposition by double digits.
- The Irish defense recorded 10 steals in the win, the most of any game this season.
- Gibbs scored a season-high 18 points and has now recorded 10-plus points 37 times in his career.
- Harvey’s 15 points marked a season high for the sophomore and were just two points off his career high.
- With 13 points, Mooney has now finished in double figures in three of four games this season and 11 times in his career.
- Hubb recorded the first double-digit scoring performance of his career with 11 points.
- Hubb earned the first start of his career on Saturday afternoon.
UP NEXT
Notre Dame wraps up the Gotham Classic against Duquesne at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Nov. 20 at Purcell Pavilion as part of the Gotham Classic. The game will air live on ACC Network Extra via the WatchESPN app.
To purchase tickets visit UND.com/BuyTickets.
— ND —