Notre Dame shoots down NIU
Kyle McAlarney and Rob Kurz scored 17 points each, and Notre Dame opened a 32-point halftime lead en route to a 108-62 victory over Northern Illinois on Saturday night, the 25th straight home win for the Fighting Irish.
The Irish (7-2) shot 72 percent in the first half, making 18 of 25 shots, tying their best half shooting in eight seasons under coach Mike Brey. The Irish made their first seven shots, including four straight 3-pointers by Kyle McAlarney, to quickly open a 22-10 lead. They ended the half on a 25-5 run, to lead 57-25 at intermission.
The Huskies (2-7) had just 1 basket in the final 10 minutes of the half, shooting just 28 percent for the half. It was such a blowout that little-used Irish players Ty Proffitt and Tim Abromaitis got in the game in the first half.
Luke Harangody added 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Irish, and Ryan Ayers scored 11. Notre Dame was 14 of 25 from 3-point range, falling 3 shy of the school record for 3-pointers in a game.
Michael Patton led Northern with 12, and Shaun Logan added 10 points.
About the only thing that went wrong for the Irish all night was that starting point guard Tory Jackson bruised his right elbow with six minutes left in the first half and did not return. Team officials said he could have played if needed.
Charlotte 71, S. Illinois 56: Leemire Goldwire scored 24 points, and Charlotte (6-2) scored 20 straight points to rout Southern Illinois (3-3).
Charlotte shot 47 percent from 3-point range, held SIU to 32 percent shooting and allowed them to make just 6 of their 26 attempts from beyond the arc.
Matt Shaw scored 20 points and Joshua Bone 13 for the Salukis, who have lost three straight.
Chicago St. 83, Jackson St. 69: David Holston scored 22 of his game-high 32 points in the second half to lead Chicago State (4-8) over Jackson State (1-10) to claim third place in the Drake Regency Classic in Des Moines, Iowa. John Cantrell added 17 points, and Chidozie Chukwumah had 10 points and 10 rebounds for Chicago State.
IUPUI 64, W. Illinois 47: Forward Billy Pettiford scored a game-high 16 points, and George Hill added 15 as IUPUI (6-2, 1-0 Summit) defeated host Western Illinois (3-6, 0-1).
The Leathernecks had just two players in double digits: Jerryck Owens-Murrey (14 points) and James Washington (13).
Tennessee St. 74, E. Illinois 72: Bruce Price hit the game winner with 3.1 seconds remaining to lift Tennessee State (3-5, 1-1 Ohio Valley) over host Eastern Illinois (1-8, 0-2).
Just 30 second earlier, Eastern Illinois forward Bobby Catchings hit 1 of 2 free throws to tie the game at 72-72. The Tigers trailed 39-26 at halftime but clawed their way back.