Dec. 2, 2015

Recap | Box Score | USATSI Photo Gallery

POSTGAME NOTES
University of Notre Dame Men’s Basketball
Big Ten/ACC Challenge
Notre Dame 84, Illinois 79
Dec. 2, 2015
State Farm Center – Champaign, Illinois

TEAM

  • With the victory, the Fighting Irish registered the men’s basketball program’s 1800th career win. Notre Dame is just the eighth Division I school to reach that milestone, joining Kentucky, Kansas, North Carolina, Duke, Temple, Syracuse and UCLA.
  • Notre Dame owns an all-time record of 1800-974 (.649) in 111-plus seasons.
  • Illinois holds a 26-14 advantage in the series. The last meeting between the program’s took place in the second round of the 2003 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship, as the Irish defeated the Illini 68-60 at the RCA Dome to advance to the regional semifinals.
  • Previously, Notre Dame’s only win in Champaign (26-14) came on Feb. 6, 1926.
  • Notre Dame owns a 268-232-1 record all-time versus teams from the Big Ten Conference. The Irish have won four straight over Big Ten foes.
  • Notre Dame maintains a 2-1 record in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
  • Bonzie Colson (So./F), Steve Vasturia (Jr./G), Zach Auguste (Sr./F), Demetrius Jackson (Jr./G) and V.J. Beachem (Jr./F) started the contest for Notre Dame for the seventh straight contest. The Irish are 5-2 this season with that starting lineup.
  • Four players reached double figures in scoring for Notre Dame: Steve Vasturia (21 points), Demetrius Jackson (21), Zach Auguste (16) and Matt Farrell (10)
  • With a three-pointer at the 12:29 mark of the first half, Demetrius Jackson extended the Irish streak to 554 consecutive games with a three-point field goal.
  • Illinois led 41-33 at halftime. Notre Dame owns a 1-1 record this season when trailing after the first half of play.
  • Notre Dame’s Steve Vasturia and Demetrius Jackson led all scorers with a 21 points each.
  • Notre Dame shot 52 percent from the field. The Fighting Irish are 2-0 when shooting 50 percent or better in a contest this season.
  • There were 10 lead changes in the game. The score was tied between the Fighting Irish and Fighting illini on five occasions.
  • Notre Dame has shot 50 percent or better from behind the arc twice this season – vs. Illinois (50 percent; 10-20) and vs. Alabama (50 percent; 7-14).
  • The Fighting Irish outrebounded Illinois, 35-33. Notre Dame is 4-1 when holding an advantage on the boards this season.
  • Notre Dame registered nine turnovers against Illinois. This season, the Irish have recorded 10 turnovers or less in five of seven games.
  • With five blocks in the matchup, Notre Dame totaled a season high.

PLAYERS
Steve Vasturia (Jr./G)

  • With 21 points versus the Fighting Illini, Vasturia earned a career-high scoring total. His previous high of 20 was recorded against Butler (11/21/15).
  • His nine made field goals was also a career-high mark.
  • Vasturia has scored in double figures all seven games for the Irish this season.
  • His current 10-game double-figure scoring streak is the longest of his career and the longest active streak for any member of the Irish squad.

Zach Auguste (Sr./F)

  • Auguste posted a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds.
  • His 14 boards tied a career-high total previously set against St. Francis in Notre Dame’s season-opening contest.
  • Auguste has scored in double figures in six of seven games this season and registered a double-double in five of Notre Dame’s first seven games.
  • He has grabbed 10-plus rebounds in five consecutive games (the longest streak of his career) and in six games overall this season.
  • Auguste has scored in double figures on 45 occasions during his career, grabbed 10-plus rebounds 12 times and registered 10 double-doubles.
  • Auguste dished out a career-high four assists. Previously, Auguste registered three assists on four occasions for the Irish.

Demetrius Jackson (Jr./G)

  • Jackson has scored in double figures in all seven games. Only he and Steve Vasturia have registered double figures in every game this season.
  • Jackson has scored 20-plus points in eight games over the course of his collegiate career and netted double figures in 44 contests.

Matt Farrell (So./G)

  • Farrell scored 10 points in the contest, a career high.
  • The game marks Farrell’s first double-figure outing with the Fighting Irish.
  • He also posted a career-high four rebounds against Illinois. Farrell’s previous high of three rebounds was recorded versus both St. Francis and UMass Lowell earlier this season.