Feb. 18, 2013

Recap | Box Score | Photo Gallery

February 18, 2013
Petersen Events Center o Pittsburgh, Pa.

o Notre Dame improved to 21-6 overall and 9-5 in BIG EAST play this season … the Fighting Irish are 4-3 on the road (all BIG EAST games)

o This was the 58th meeting all-time between Notre Dame and Pittsburgh … the Irish have won the last five meetings and lead the series 31-27 … the Irish have won two straight games at Pittsburgh and are 12-17 all-time at Pittsburgh … the Fighting Irish are 15-12 against the Panthers in BIG EAST play

o Notre Dame is 4-1 against ranked opponents this season … over the last four seasons, the Irish are 21-13 against teams ranked in the Associated Press top-25 poll

o Pittsburgh’s 42 points matched the lowest output ever for a Notre Dame opponent in BIG EAST play (regular season or tournament) … Seton Hall scored 42 in a 55-42 Irish victory last season (1/25/12)

o The 42 points from Pittsburgh were the fewest allowed by Notre Dame against a ranked opponent since a 34-28 overtime loss to No. 4/3 Kentucky on Dec. 29, 1981

o Pittsburgh’s 20 second-half points were the fewest allowed by Notre Dame in a half of BIG EAST play since USF scored 19 in the second half of last season’s BIG EAST Championship quarterfinal contest (3/8/12)

o The Panthers shot 34.8% (16-46) 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 Pittsburgh was 0-for-8 from three-point range … it’s the first time ever that an Irish opponent did not make a three-pointer in BIG EAST play (regular season or tournament)

o Notre Dame’s 51 points were the fewest for the Irish in a victory since a 50-48 win at Connecticut last season (1/29/12)

o Notre Dame held a 40-25 rebound advantage … the Irish are 15-0 this season when outrebounding their opponent

o The Fighting Irish had an assist on 12 of their 18 made field goals

o The Irish trailed by as many as 16 points (19-3) in the first half

o Notre Dame trailed 22-19 at halftime … the Irish are 4-5 this season when trailing at the intermission

o Notre Dame’s 19 first-half points were the fewest in a half for the Irish since they tallied 19 in the opening half against Louisville during the semifinals of last season’s BIG EAST Championship (3/9/12)

o Pittsburgh’s 22 first-half points were the fewest allowed by Notre Dame in the first half of a BIG EAST game since West Virginia scored 16 on Feb. 8, 2012

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 eighth straight game – and eighth time overall this season – that quintet has started … the Irish are 6-2 with that starting lineup … Atkins, Connaughton and Cooley have started all 27 games this season, while Grant has 26 starts and Knight has started eight games

o Notre Dame wore blue jerseys for the third time this season … the Irish are 1-2 this season when wearing blue uniforms

o A three-pointer from Pat Connaughton in the first half upped Notre Dame’s streak of consecutive games with a made three-pointer to 469

Eric Atkins (Jr./G)
o Scored in double-figures (10) for the 18th time this season (10th time in BIG EAST play) … has 46 career double-figure efforts o Had a game-high seven assists

Jack Cooley (Sr./F)
o Scored in double-figures (13 points) for a team-best 25th time this season (48th time of career) … has reached double-figures in 13 of 14 BIG EAST games this season

Jerian Grant (Jr./G)
o Scored in double-figures (13 points) for the 22nd time this season (48th time of his career) … has reached double-figures in 12 of 14 BIG EAST games this season

Tom Knight (Sr./F)
o His eight rebounds tied a career-high total