March 5, 2013

Recap | Box Score | Quotes | Photo Gallery

Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center o Notre Dame, Ind.

o Notre Dame improved to 23-7 overall and 11-6 in BIG EAST play this season … the Fighting Irish are 17-2 at home this season

o The 40 points from St. John’s were the fewest ever scored by a Notre Dame opponent in BIG EAST play (regular season or tournament) … the previous low was 41 by Cincinnati on Feb. 24 … tonight was the third time this season the Irish held a BIG EAST opponent to 42 points or fewer (Pittsburgh scored 42 on Feb. 18)

o Notre Dame’s 26-point margin of victory was its largest in a BIG EAST game since a 27-point win (71-44) over West Virginia on Feb. 22, 2012

o St. John’s shot 30.4% (17-56) from the field … that is the lowest shooting percentage for any Irish opponent this season

o The 14 second-half points from St. John’s were the fewest ever allowed by Notre Dame in any half of BIG EAST play

o The Fighting Irish shot 68.0% (17-25) from the floor in the second half … Notre Dame outscored St. John’s 44-14 in the second half

o Notre Dame held a 36-34 rebound advantage … the Irish are 17-1 this season when outrebounding their opponent

o Tonight was the second meeting this season between Notre Dame and St. John’s … the Red Storm topped the Irish 67-63 on Jan. 15 inside Madison Square Garden … tonight’s Irish victory snapped a three-game losing streak to the Red Storm … Notre Dame holds a 21-19 edge in the all-time series with St. John’s … the Fighting Irish are 12-11 against the Red Storm in BIG EAST play … St. John’s is 8-13 all-time at Notre Dame

o Notre Dame trailed 26-22 at halftime … the Irish are 5-6 this season when trailing at intermission

o Eric Atkins (Jr./G), Pat Connaughton (So./G), Jack Cooley (Sr./F), Jerian Grant (Jr./G) and Tom Knight (Sr./F) started tonight’s contest … it was the 11th straight game – and 11th time overall this season – that quintet has started … the Irish are 8-3 with that starting lineup … Atkins, Connaughton and Cooley have started all 30 games this season, while Grant has 29 starts and Knight has started 11 games

o The Irish wore gold jerseys for the sixth time this season (fifth straight home game) … Notre Dame is 6-0 this season when wearing gold uniforms

o Fighting Irish senior players Mike Broghammer, Joey Brooks, Jack Cooley and Scott Martin were honored prior to tonight’s game

o Notre Dame won its final regular-season home game for the eighth straight season

o A three-pointer from Jerian Grant in the first half upped Notre Dame’s streak of consecutive games with a made three-pointer to 472

Eric Atkins (Jr./G)
o Scored in double-figures (15 points) for the fourth straight game and for the 21st time this season (13th time in BIG EAST play) … has 49 career double-figure efforts
o Had seven assists

Jack Cooley (Sr./F)
o Notched his 19th double-double of the season (10th in BIG EAST play) with 12 points and 13 rebounds … has 32 career double-doubles
o Scored in double-figures for the 27th time this season (out of 30 games played) … has tallied 10 or more points in 15 of 17 BIG EAST games this season … has scored in double-figures 50 times in his career
o Hauled down 10 or more rebounds for the 20th time this season (11th time in BIG EAST play) and for the 35th time of his career

Jerian Grant (Jr./G)
o Scored a game-high 21 points for the second straight contest … has scored 20 or more points in back-to-back games for the first time in his career … this was his fourth 20-plus point performance of the season (third in BIG EAST play) … has scored 20 or more points eight times in his career
o Scored in double-figures for the fourth straight game and for the 25th time this season (51st time of his career) … has reached double-figures in 15 of 17 BIG EAST games this season
o Made a career-high five three-pointers (on six attempts) … his previous high was four on two occasions
o Had a game-high eight assists