Nov. 12, 2015
No. 19/18 Notre Dame (0-0, 0-0) vs. St. Francis (0-0, 0-0)
Date: Friday, November 13, 2015
Site: Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center (9,149)
Game Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV/Internet: ESPN3
Talent: Shawn Kenney (play-by-play); Rich Zvosec (analyst)
Radio: Notre Dame Basketball Radio Network; WatchND
Talent: Jack Nolan (Play-By-Play); Jordan Cornette (Analyst)
Parking: MapTickets: Tickets
NOTRE DAME OPENS SEASON FRIDAY AGAINST ST. FRANCIS (PA)
- With preseason play in the review mirror, the Fighting Irish officially begin their 2015-16 campaign Friday against the St. Francis Red Flash. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (ET) inside Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center.
- The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 with Shawn Kenney (play-by-play) and Rich Zvosec (analyst) calling the action.
- A free audio broadcast will be available courtesy of WatchND. Jack Nolan will handle play-by-play duties, while Jordan Cornette will serve as analyst. The matchup is also available on Sirius 108.
CELEBRATE THE CHAMPS
- The Irish will pay tribute to their historic 2014-15 season Friday by raising the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship banner at Purcell Pavilion during pregame festivities.
- Notre Dame won the ACC tournament title as the Irish defeated Miami (70-63), Duke (74-64) and North Carolina (90-82) en route to the championship. It marked the first conference tournament title in program history.
TICKETS, GET YOUR TICKETS
- Game tickets are available at the Murnane Family Ticket Center. For more information, call 574-631-7356 or visit www.UND.com/BuyTickets
THE MATCHUP
- Notre Dame is 12-0 all-time versus St. Francis.
- The last meeting between the programs took place Nov. 24, 2012, which resulted in a 69-52 Irish victory on their home court
- Head coach Rob Krimmel, who has complied a 31-61 record in three seasons at St. Francis, led the Red Flash to a 16-16 overall record last season.
- St. Francis returns three starters from the 2014-15 campaign, including seniors Greg Brown and Ronnie Drinnon as well as junior Malik Harmon. Harmon ranked second on the team in scoring last season with 9.7 points per game and led the Red Flash in assists with 2.7 assists per game.
IRISH SUCCESSFUL IN SEASON OPENERS
- Notre Dame holds an all-time record of 92-18 (.836) in season openers and has won all 15 openers under head coach Mike Brey. The last time Notre Dame lost a season opener was against Miami (Ohio) (76-65) on November 13, 1998.
- Since the opening of Purcell Pavilion (formerly the Joyce Center), Notre Dame teams are 41-6 (.872) in season openers at home. This is the 16th straight season Notre Dame has opened a season at home.
- Notre Dame topped Binghamton, 82-39, at Purcell Pavilion in last season’s opener.
PRESEASON PLAY
- The Irish returned to the Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center hardwood for a pair of exhibition contests, earning wins over St. Francis (Illinois), 87-56, and Caldwell, 81-56.
- V.J. Beachem averaged a team-best 11.0 points per game. Beachem netted a team-high 13 points in the preseason finale versus Caldwell.
- Three other Fighting Irish players averaged double-figures in points in the two games – Bonzie Colson (10.5), Demetrius Jackson (10.5) and Steve Vasturia (10.5). Jackson registered a team-high 10 assists, while Zach Auguste led the team with 16 rebounds.
- Notre Dame shot 49.6 percent (61-123) from the field and 35.6 percent (16-45) from three-point range.
- The Irish had 36 assists and 26 turnovers (1.4 assist-to-turnover ratio).
IRISH INK THREE ON SIGNING DAY
- Guards Nikola Djogo (Stoney Creek, Canada) and Temple (T.J.) Gibbs (Scotch Pines, New Jersey) and power forward John Mooney (Longwood, Florida) signed their National Letters of intent on the first day of the 2015 November early signing period. The trio is set to enroll at Notre Dame in the fall of 2016.
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