Oct. 31, 2008

Notre Dame Briar Cliff (exhbition) Box Score

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The ninth-ranked Notre Dame men’s basketball team defeated the Briar Cliff Chargers, 103-64, in the first exhibition game of the 2008-09 season on Friday night at the Joyce Center.

The Chargers managed to keep the game close for much of the first half, until the Irish went up by 10 (32-22) with 6:38 to play. Briar Cliff pulled within four (38-34) with 2:29 to go in the half, but the Irish went on an 8-3 scoring run to end the period. Notre Dame took a 46-34 lead into the locker room.

The Irish came out in the second half on fire, scoring 17 points in just under seven minutes and stretching their lead to 63-45. Notre Dame put the game away from there and came away with the 103-64 victory.

Senior guard Ryan Ayers led all scorers with 21 points, to go along with five rebounds and 3-of-3 shooting from the free-throw line. Junior guard Tory Jackson had a stellar night for the Irish, scoring 18 points with seven rebounds, seven assists and five steals. Junior forward Luke Harangody notched a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. He also was a perfect 4-of-4 from the charity stripe and had a game-high two blocks.

Senior forward/center Luke Zeller racked up 12 points and six rebounds, while senior guard Kyle McAlarney was the fifth Irish player in double digits with 11 points, to go along with five rebounds and four assists.

Sophomore forward Tim Abromaitis came off the bench to score eight points and grab four rebounds for the Irish, while sophomore forward Carleton Scott put up six points and had six rebounds on the night. Sophomore guard Tom Kopko added four points, while junior guard Jonathan Peoples had three points, three rebounds and four assists. Junior forward Tim Andree and sophomore guard/forward Tyrone Nash each added two points for Notre Dame.

The Irish dominated the boards, grabbing 51 rebounds to the Chargers’ 27. Notre Dame was 18-of-21 from the free-throw line and went 38-of-74 from the field. The Irish also had just nine turnovers with 20 assists on the night.

Derek Mechaelsen led the Chargers with 14 points and seven rebounds. Drew Hanson added 12 points, and Morris Smeader notched 10.

The Irish will host Stonehill College in their final exhibition game Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. at the Joyce Center.

–ND–