March 14, 2013

Recap | Box Score | Photo Gallery

BIG EAST Championship Second Round
Madison Square Garden o New York, N.Y.

o Notre Dame improved to 24-8 this season … the 24 wins are tied for the third-most of the Mike Brey era (13 seasons)

o The Fighting Irish improved to 10-17 all-time in BIG EAST Championship play, including a 9-12 mark under head coach Mike Brey

o Notre Dame has won at least one game in each of the last five BIG EAST Championships … that streak is a program best

o The Fighting Irish are 57-47 all-time inside Madison Square Garden

o Notre Dame is 3-1 against Rutgers in the BIG EAST Championship … Notre Dame leads the all-time series with Rutgers 20-13 … the Irish have won nine of the last 11 meetings, including a 69-66 win on January 19 inside Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center

o With the win, Notre Dame’s senior class moved into a tie as the all-time winningest class in program history … the Irish have compiled a 96-39 record over the last four seasons … the 96 victories tie the stretch from 2007-11 (96-42)

o With his season-high 21-point effort, Pat Connaughton became the sixth different Irish player to score 20 or more points in a game this season (Atkins, Cooley, Grant, Martin and Sherman are the others)

o Notre Dame was 10-of-17 from three-point range … it was the fourth time this season (second in BIG EAST play) that the Irish made 10 or more three-pointers in a game

o The Irish held a 39-34 rebound advantage … Notre Dame is 18-1 this season when outrebounding its opponent

o Notre Dame led 33-19 at halftime … the Irish are 19-1 this season when leading at the intermission

o Tonight was the third time this season Notre Dame held an opponent to under 20 points in a half … Cincinnati had 15 first-half points on Feb. 24 and St. John’s tallied 14 second-half points on March 5

o The 19 first-half points from Rutgers matched the lowest first-half output for a Notre Dame opponent in BIG EAST Championship play … Rutgers also had 19 points in the opening half of the 2009 first round game against the Irish

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 13th straight game – and 13th time overall this season – that quintet has started … the Irish are 9-4 with that starting lineup … Atkins, Connaughton and Cooley have started all 32 games this season, while Grant has 31 starts and Knight has started 13 games

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 474

Pat Connaughton (So./G-F)
o Scored a season-high and game-high 21 points … has scored 20 or more points in a game four times during his career
o Scored in double-figures for the 13th time this season (22nd time of his career)
o Made a season-high six three-pointers (on eight attempts) … the previous high was four against Rutgers during the regular season … the six treys tie the most for any Notre Dame player this season (Scott Martin had six versus Seton Hall)

Tom Knight (Sr./F)
o Netted a career-high 18 points and hauled down a career-best nine rebounds
o Has scored in double-figures five times this season (all in BIG EAST play)

Jerian Grant (Jr./G)
o Scored in double-figures (11 points) for the 26th time this season … has 52 career double-figure scoring efforts