Nov. 16, 2016
By Robby Hamman
NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Notre Dame (2-0) used a balanced attack on the offensive end to cruise to a 92-49 victory over Seattle (1-2) on Wednesday evening inside Purcell Pavilion. Six players finished in double figures in the point column to lead the Irish to the 42-point triumph.
Senior forward V.J. Beachem and junior forward Bonzie Colson led the way for Notre Dame, as each poured in 16 points. Senior guard Steve Vasturia and junior guard Matt Farrell each added 13 points, while sophomore guard Rex Pflueger and freshman guard T.J. Gibbs combined for 23 off the bench.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Irish offense was on full display in the opening 20 minutes of action, as Notre Dame connected on 10 three-pointers and had a couple of highlight-reel putback dunks en route to 56 first half points. Seattle led 4-2 in the early stages of the game before the Irish took complete control of the game, going on a 17-2 run to take a 19-6 lead with 12 minutes to play in the period. Notre Dame led by double digits the rest of the way and increased its lead to 56-25 at the halftime break.
The Irish continued to dictate play in the second stanza, as Notre Dame held the Red Hawks’ offense to just 24 points in the final frame. Notre Dame scored 36 points in the half to go on to win by a final of 92-49. Gibbs led the team in scoring in the final 20 minutes of action, scoring nine points.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Farrell scored a career-high 13 points against Seattle and knocked down a personal-best three shots from three-point territory. The junior also added four rebounds, four assists and two steals to help the Irish.
NOTRE DAME STAT OF THE GAME
The Irish put on a shooting clinic from distance in the first half, finishing 10-of-18 from beyond the arc for a percentage of .556. Wednesday was the first time the Irish have recorded 10 makes from three-point range in a half since achieving the feat against Chicago State on Nov. 26, 2012.
NOTES OF THE GAME
- The Irish are now 1-0 against Seattle in the all-time series.
- Notre Dame is 48-35 when playing in-season tournament games, as Wednesday’s contest was Notre Dame’s second game in the Legends Classic.
- The Irish defense didn’t allow a Seattle field goal in the final 6:07 of the first half.
- Notre Dame had six players finish in double figures for the first time since doing so against Boston College on February 5, 2015.
- The 43-point win marked the first by 40-plus points since defeating Chicago St. by 48 points on November 29, 2014.
- The Irish allowed the opposition to score less than 50 points for the first time since Chicago State scored 42 on November 29, 2014.
- Notre Dame’s two-game total of 191 points is tied for the second-best mark to start a season during the Mike Brey era.
- The Irish forced 21 turnovers, while only having eight.
UP NEXT
The Irish return to the court at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 18 to take on Loyala Maryland in Purcell Pavilion.
— ND —
Robby Hamman joined Fighting Irish Media as athletics communications assistant director in September 2016, coordinating efforts for the volleyball and men’s lacrosse program. Hamman is a 2010 graduate of Bethel College, where he earned bachelor’s degrees in sport management and business administration, and earned his master’s degree in business administration from Defiance College in 2013.