Feb. 24, 2013

Recap | Final Stats | Quotes | AP Gallery | ND Gallery

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

o Notre Dame improved to 22-6 overall and 10-5 in BIG EAST play this season … the Fighting Irish are 16-2 at home

o Notre Dame clinched its fourth straight 10-win season in BIG EAST play … it’s the first time in program history the Irish have compiled four straight 10-win seasons in the BIG EAST … Notre Dame has won 10 or more league games nine times in 13 seasons under head coach Mike Brey

o Cincinnati’s 41 points were the fewest ever for a Notre Dame opponent in BIG EAST play (regular season or tournament) … the previous low was 42 by Pittsburgh on Monday and Seton Hall last season (1/25/12)

o The Irish have held consecutive opponents under 50 points (Pittsburgh 42, Cincinnati 41) for the first time since they limited Seton Hall and Connecticut to 42 and 48 points, respectively, in back-to-back games last season (Jan. 25 & Jan. 29)

o The Bearcats shot 31.5% (17-54) from the field … that is the lowest shooting percentage for an Irish opponent in BIG EAST play since West Virginia shot 31.5% (17-54) on Feb. 22, 2012

o Notre Dame held a 43-27 rebound advantage … the Irish are 16-0 this season when outrebounding their opponent

o The Fighting Irish had an assist on 18 of their 22 made field goals

o This was the 14th meeting all-time between Notre Dame and Cincinnati … the Fighting Irish lead the series 10-4 … the Irish have won five of the last six encounters, including both this season … Cincinnati is 0-5 all-time at Notre Dame … the Irish are 7-3 against the Bearcats in BIG EAST play

o The Fighting Irish are 51-3 in their last 54 home games

o Notre Dame’s 21-point margin of victory was the largest for the Irish in a BIG EAST game this season

o Notre Dame led 29-15 at halftime … the Irish are 18-1 this season when leading at the intermission

o Cincinnati’s 15 first-half points were the fewest ever allowed by Notre Dame in any half of BIG EAST play (regular season or tournament)

o The Irish wore gold jerseys for the fifth time this season (fourth straight home game) … Notre Dame is 5-0 this season when wearing gold uniforms

o Eric Atkins (Jr./G), Pat Connaughton (So./G), Jack Cooley (Sr./F), Jerian Grant (Jr./G) and Tom Knight (Sr./F) started today’s contest … it was the ninth straight game – and ninth time overall this season – that quintet has started … the Irish are 7-2 with that starting lineup … Atkins, Connaughton and Cooley have started all 28 games this season, while Grant has 27 starts and Knight has started eight games

o A three-pointer from Eric Atkins in the first half upped Notre Dame’s streak of consecutive games with a made three-pointer to 470

Zach Auguste (Fr./F)
o Grabbed a career-high (and game-high) nine rebounds

Eric Atkins (Jr./G)
o Scored in double-figures (11 points) for the second straight game and for the 19th time this season (11th time in BIG EAST play) … has 47 career double-figure efforts o Had a game-high six assists

Jack Cooley (Sr./F)
o Scored in double-figures (11 points) for a team-best 26th time this season (49th time of career) … has reached double-figures in 14 of 15 BIG EAST games this season o Was 5-for-7 from the field

Jerian Grant (Jr./G)
o Scored in double-figures (13 points) for the second consecutive game and for the 23rd time this season (49th time of his career) … has reached double-figures in 13 of 15 BIG EAST games this season o Was 9-for-9 from the free throw line … the nine made free throws were a season high for any Irish player this season

Tom Knight (Sr./F)
o Reached double-figures in points (12) for the fourth time this season (all in BIG EAST play) o Was 6-for-7 from the field