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Ben Hansbrough has 9 points and 6 rebounds to lead the Irish to a 27-26 halftime lead at WVU Coliseum. The Irish as a team shot the ball very poorly, only 35.5% from the floor, including 3-13 from Three Point range. Scott Martin and Tyrone Nash each had 7 for the Irish.
West Virginia was paced by Joe Mazzulla, who also had 9 points in the first half, including an end-to-end layup in the last 10 seconds of the half to cut the ND lead to 1. The Mountaineers are staying in the game from the Free Throw line, shooting 8-10, while only shooting 28% from the floor.
The Fighting Irish hold a 23-18 edge on the boards, an area ND Head Coach Mike Brey emphasized before the game as a key to victory.
GAME NOTES: The eighth-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish bring a seven-game win streak into today's Big East battle with the West Virginia Mountaineers in Morgantown.
Notre Dame's 21-4 start is its best 25-game mark under head coach Mike Brey, and its 10-3 league record ties for the program's best after 13 games to start conference play. Entering the weekend, the Fighting Irish own sole possession of second place in the Big East standings, as they trail first-place Pittsburgh by two games. Notre Dame has been idle for a full week, as it bested South Florida by a 78-55 final in the most recent outing.
As for West Virginia, it hopes to bounce back from Monday's 63-52 road loss to Syracuse. The Mountaineers are 16-9 overall, including 7-6 versus Big East competition, and three of their last four games have resulted in defeat.
Notre Dame owns a 25-11 series lead over West Virginia, which includes an 8-7 edge in Morgantown.
Ben Hansbrough, a standout guard for Notre Dame, figures to get plenty of consideration for Big East Conference Player of the Year. Through 25 games, all of which he has started, Hansbrough is averaging 17.3 ppg on the strength of his 41.4 percent shooting from three-point range, and he is handing out 4.1 apg as well. Tim Abromaitis provides 14.3 ppg and 6.4 rpg for the club, while Carleton Scott (11.8 ppg) and Scott Martin (10.1 ppg) add offensive balance. Notre Dame is generating 75.6 ppg while limiting opponents to 64.6 ppg on 40.7 percent field goal efficiency. All five starters and six players in all scored in double figures for the Fighting Irish in the romp over South Florida last time out. The club shot 55.7 percent from the floor while limiting the lowly Bulls to 30.4 percent efficiency, and Jack Cooley led the way with 18 points off the bench.
Like Notre Dame, West Virginia has played 25 games, and the Mountaineers are generating 70.5 ppg while permitting 64.4 ppg to foes. There are four double- digit scorers in the fold, and Casey Mitchell leads the pack with 15.4 ppg. Kevin Jones checks in with 12.7 ppg and 7.0 rpg, while Darryl Bryant (10.4 ppg) and John Flowers (10.0 ppg) round out the foursome. Mitchell was outstanding off the bench against Syracuse on Monday, as he nailed 7-of-12 three-pointers en route to 23 points. Flowers added 10 points for the Mountaineers, who shot just 36.2 percent from the field, including a 7-of-25 effort during the decisive second half. Clearly, 16 turnovers hurt the cause for WVU, which was also outrebounded by a 35-28 margin and outscored 13-7 from the foul line.
The Fighting Irish will find a way to knock off the Mountaineers in Morgantown, something that has been done just twice this season. As usual, Hansbrough will be the catalyst.
FACTS & STATS: Site: WVU Coliseum (14,000) -- Morgantown, West Virginia. Television: CBS. Home Record: Notre Dame 15-0, West Virginia 9-2. Away Record: Notre Dame 3-3, West Virginia 4-5. Neutral Record: Notre Dame 3-1, West Virginia 3-2. Conference Record: Notre Dame 10-3, West Virginia 7-6. Series Record: Notre Dame leads, 25-11.
Final: No. 8 Notre Dame Goes Cold, West Virginia Pulls Away, Winning 72-58
Morgantown, WV (Sports Network) – Darryl Bryant scored 24 points to lead West Virginia to a 72-58 victory over eighth-ranked Notre Dame.
Joe Mazzulla had 16 points with seven assists and five rebounds for the Mountaineers (17-9, 8-6 Big East), who entered Saturday having dropped three of their last four games. Kevin Jones added 14 points and 10 boards as West Virginia improved to 10-2 at home this season.
Ben Hansbrough scored 19 points for Notre Dame (21-5, 10-4) before fouling out late in the second half. Carleton Scott posted a double-double with 11 points and as many rebounds for the Fighting Irish, who had won seven in a row.
Feb 19 3:51p by Matt Grecco - 0 comments