Jan. 19, 2005

Notre Dame at West Virginia Box Score

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) – There might be no answer for a Notre Dame team on the best shooting tear in school history.

The Fighting Irish (12-3, 4-1 Big East) hit 13 three-pointers for the second-straight game in beating West Virginia 70-57 Wednesday.

Colin Falls hit five three-pointers and had 19 points and to lead Notre Dame to its eighth win in nine games and its second-best conference start ever. That came on the heels of his six three-pointers, including the game winner, in Notre Dame’s victory over St. John’s on Saturday.

Chris Thomas scored 16, including his 2000th career point, one of just six Fighting Irish players ever to do so.

“This was probably our best offensive performance of the year,” Notre Dame coach Mike Brey said. “We got some great three-point looks and really hit to take them out early.”

West Virginia (11-4, 1-3) never had a chance as Notre Dame hit its first seven three-pointers and eight in the first half for a 38-31 lead at the break.

Falls’ had four first half threes. The sophomore’s current five-game double-digit scoring streak is the longest of his career. The rest of the team is also streaking as Notre Dame has a school-record 26 three-pointers over two games and leads the Big East in both free throw and three-point shooting.

“They pass it so well, they see the floor, they get in the lane, and we couldn’t guard the three. We just could not stop it,” WVU coach John Beilein said.

Not much is left save winning on the road.

The Irish have a chance to match their best Big East start ever if they can win at Georgetown and at Villanova next week. That’s not a stretch for a school that is now 21-13 in Big East away games since 2000, the second-best mark in the league.

“We’ve been a confident road team since I’ve been here,” Brey said. “Sometimes at home you play with the weight of the world on your shoulders and try to be perfect.”

Only Boston College also has a winning league road record in that stretch.

Notre Dame is also 11-0 when leading at the half this year.

West Virginia leading scorer Tyrone Sally was held scoreless Wednesday for the first time in his career. WVU was led by Joe Herber’s nine points. It was the first time this season no Mountaineer finished in double-figures.

After starting 10-0, West Virginia has lost four of five and three straight.