March 2, 2012

Recap | Box Score | Quotes | AP Gallery | ND Gallery #1 | ND Gallery #2

Post-Game Notes

o Tonight was the 25th meeting all-time between Notre Dame and Providence. The Irish lead the series 16-9, including nine straight victories over the Friars.

o Eric Atkins (So./G), Pat Connaughton (Fr./G), Jack Cooley (Jr./F), Jerian Grant (So./G) and Scott Martin (Sr./G) started tonight’s contest. It was the 12th straight game – and 12th time overall this season – that quintet has started. The Irish are 10-2 with that starting lineup. Grant and Martin both have a team-high 30 starts this season.

o Notre Dame has clinched a double-bye and the No. 3 seed for the upcoming BIG EAST Championship. The Irish will begin tournament play with a quarterfinal contest at approximately 9:00 p.m. (ET) on Thursday inside Madison Square Garden. Their opponent will be determined during Wednesday’s second-round of play. This is the second straight season that Notre Dame has garnered a double-bye for the BIG EAST Championship.

o Junior forward Jack Cooley posted his team-best 12th double-double of the season (10th in BIG EAST play) with a career-high 27 points and 17 rebounds. He recorded 21 points and 10 rebounds in the first half alone.

o Notre Dame had five double-figure scorers – Jack Cooley (27), Alex Dragicevich (12), Scott Martin (11), Eric Atkins (10), Jerian Grant (10) – for the third time this season and the first time in BIG EAST play. The other occasions were against Bryant (Nov. 27) and Sacred Heart (Dec. 19).

o Notre Dame led 31-28 at halftime. The Irish are 15-1 this season when leading at the intermission.

o The Irish only committed nine turnovers. That marked the 14th time this season (eighth time in BIG EAST play) that Notre Dame committed fewer than 10 turnovers in a game.

o Notre Dame outrebounded Providence 40-35. The Irish are 14-0 this season when outrebounding their opponent.

o Notre Dame dished out 20 assists on its 26 made field goals. The Irish have registered at least 20 assists in a game seven times this season (three times in BIG EAST play).

o The Irish are 35-1 in their last 36 home games.

o Notre Dame is 16-1 at home, 5-5 in true road games and 0-4 in neutral site contests this season.

o An Alex Dragicevich three-pointer in the first half upped Notre Dame’s streak of consecutive games with a made three-pointer to 439.

o Former Irish great Adrian Dantley was inducted into the Notre Dame Basketball Ring of Honor at halftime.

Eric Atkins (So./G)
o Scored in double-figures (10 points) for the 20th time this season (12th time in BIG EAST play)
o Matched a career-best total with nine assists

Jack Cooley (Jr./F)
o Posted his sixth double-double in the last eight games with a career-high 27 points and 17 rebounds … he has a team-best 12 double-doubles this season (10 in BIG EAST play)
o Has scored in double-figures 17 times this season (12 times in BIG EAST play) … has reached double-figures in seven of the last eight games
o Tonight was his team-best sixth 20-plus point effort of the season (fourth in BIG EAST play)
o Reached double-figures in rebounds for the 14th time this season (11th time in BIG EAST play)
o Had a game-high three blocked shots

Alex Dragicevich (Jr./G)
o Scored in double-figures (12 points) for the seventh time this season (second time in BIG EAST play)
o Pulled down five rebounds, which tied a career-high total

Jerian Grant (So./G)
o Scored in double-figures (10 points) for a team-best 24th time this season (14th time in BIG EAST play)

Scott Martin (Sr./G)
o Scored in double-figures (11 points) for the 16th time this season (11th time in BIG EAST play)