Jackson comes to Irish rescue

Tory Jackson helped No. 20 Notre Dame get back on track after a loss to No. 17 Connecticut.

Jackson had 17 points, 10 assists and 8 rebounds, and the Irish held off host Rutgers 71-68 Sunday, handing the Scarlet Knights their sixth straight loss.

"It was real big," Jackson said after scoring a season-high and coming within 1 of his career bests for assists and rebounds. "We learned how to close games out, especially knocking down free throws at the end. We did a good job of capitalizing on some of their mistakes."

Kyle McAlarney added 16 points, including 2 free throws after Rutgers blew an offensive rebound while down a point with about 10 seconds to play, to help the Irish (19-5, 9-3 Big East) win for the 17th time in 20 games.

Rob Kurz added 11 points and career-high 14 rebounds, and Luke Harangody had 10 points and 8 rebounds as the Irish rebounded from a late meltdown in an 84-78 loss to Connecticut on Wednesday.

"It wasn't the prettiest game we could have played, but we grinded it out," said Harangody, who was 5-for-16 from the field in his second lowest scoring output of the season. "The important thing is, we're 9-3 now, that's what we're looking for."

The 9-3 conference mark ties Notre Dame's best start in the Big East, with the other coming in 1995-96, its first year in the league.

Anthony Farmer had 16 points, and JR Inman added 14 points for Rutgers (10-17, 2-12), which saw a game-tying 3-pointer by Corey Chandler miss badly in the waning seconds.

"I just don't think there's a guard playing better than Tory right now," said Notre Dame coach Mike Brey. "We've hit our stride the last month because of how this young man has played. Today it was his will that said I'm going to find a way to get my team a win. Whatever we needed, he did."