SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -- Jerian Grant had 21 points and eight assists, Eric Atkins added 15 points and No. 24 Notre Dame held St. John's to 18 percent shooting in the second half in a 66-40 victory Tuesday night.
The Fighting Irish (23-7, 11-6 Big East) ended a three-game losing streak to the Red Storm (16-13, 8-9), who lost for the fifth time in six games. Notre Dame's Cameron Biedscheid and Sir'Dominic Pointer of the Red Storm got in a skirmish with 1:46 left in the game. Both players were given technicals and ejected.
Jack Cooley, who only played 15 minutes was held scoreless Saturday against Marquette because of an illness, went 0 for 2 in the first half against St. John's before scoring 12 points in the second half. He had 13 rebounds in his final home game.
JaKarr Sampson had 12 points and Phil Greene added 10 for the Red Storm, who finished with 10 blocked shots.
St. John's athleticism gave the Irish problems early as the Red Storm outscored the Irish 14-4 in the paint in the first half and had six blocked shots as they took a seven-point lead late in the first half. But the Irish shot their way out of it, making 68 percent of their shots in the second half after shooting 28 percent in the first half.
After the Red Storm took a 28-24 lead on a rebound basket by Jamal Branch, Pat Connaughton hit a jumper then made two free throws moments later to ignite an 11-2 run. Tom Knight muscled up over two Red Storm defenders and Connaughton scored again inside before Grant and Atkins capped the run with 3-pointers to give the Irish a 38-30 lead.
Cooley scored twice inside, the second turned into a three-point play when he was fouled. Grant then hit a 17-foot jumper and a 3-pointer to give the Irish a 48-34 lead.
The Irish continued to pull away, extending the lead to 66-38 on two 3-pointers by Grant.
Notre Dame, which was 1 of 9 from 3-point range in a 67-63 loss to the Red Storm in January, finished 8 of 17.
Notre Dame has won eight straight final home games.
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Saturday, March 9 2013 11:07 PM EST2013-03-10 04:07:45 GMT
Gorgui Dieng had 20 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks to help No. 8 Louisville earn a share of the Big East Conference title with a 73-57 victory over No. 24 Notre Dame on Saturday.
Gorgui Dieng had 20 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks to help No. 8 Louisville earn a share of the Big East Conference title with a 73-57 victory over No. 24 Notre Dame on Saturday.
Thursday, May 2 2013 8:40 PM EDT2013-05-03 00:40:55 GMT
Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly says "all eyes are on" Cowboys Stadium after the $1.2 billion showplace was announced as the first venue for the national championship game in the new playoff format.
Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly says "all eyes are on" Cowboys Stadium after the $1.2 billion showplace was announced as the first venue for the national championship game in the new playoff format.
Monday, March 18 2013 12:49 AM EDT2013-03-18 04:49:25 GMT
Notre Dame has earned its sixth NCAA tournament bid in the last seven seasons. The Fighting Irish are the seventh seed in the West Region and will face No. 10 seed Iowa State on Friday.
Notre Dame has earned its sixth NCAA tournament bid in the last seven seasons. The Fighting Irish are the seventh seed in the West Region and will face No. 10 seed Iowa State on Friday.
Friday, March 15 2013 10:58 AM EDT2013-03-15 14:58:48 GMT
Pat Connaughton scored 18 points on six 3-pointers and Jack Cooley had two big offensive rebounds in Notre Dame's game-changing run as the 24th-ranked Fighting Irish beat No. 12 Marquette 73-65 on Thursday night...
Pat Connaughton scored 18 points on six 3-pointers and Jack Cooley had two big offensive rebounds in Notre Dame's game-changing run as the 24th-ranked Fighting Irish beat No. 12 Marquette 73-65 on Thursday night to reach...
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