Nov 18, 2002
By TOM COYNE
AP Sports Writer
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Matt Carroll scored 26 points, hitting 4-of-8 3-pointers, Dan Miller added 17 points and 11 rebounds, and Torin Francis had 16 points and 10 rebounds as Notre Dame beat Indiana-Purdue-Indianapolis 89-45 Monday night in the second round of the Guardians Classic.
The Irish (2-0) used the same method to beat IUPUI (1-1) as they did Belmont a night earlier, finishing the first half on a run and putting the game away by continuing the run in the second half. The Irish had an 18-5 run to end the first half and opened the second half with an 20-6 run to put the game out of reach.
Both teams advance to the Guardians Classic semifinals in Kansas City, along with Creighton and Furman.
Before the tournament began, the Notre Dame record for blocked shots in a game was 12, set in 1977 against Stonehill. The Irish beat that mark in both games, blocking 19 shots against Belmont and 13 shots against IUPUI. Jordan Cornette, who had a school-record 11 blocked shots on Sunday, finished with eight blocks on Monday.
Josh Murray was the only Jaguar in double figures with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Chris Thomas had 11 assists and eight points for the Irish.
Sparked by three straight fast-break baskets, the Irish used an 18-5 run to open a 40-28 halftime lead. The run started on a slam dunk by Francis, followed by another by Miller and a reverse layup by Torian Jones.
Dan Miller slaps the ball away from IUPUI guard Josh Mullins in the first half.
|
 |
The Irish capped the run with a pair of 3-pointers by Carroll and Chris Quinn and a basket underneath by Carroll.
Miller opened the second half with a 3-pointer. After Antoine Lewis hit a pair of baskets for IUPUI, Carroll hit another 3 pointer, Thomas made a pair of free throws and Carroll dove after his missed shot and tipped it to Miller for another slam dunk. The Irish capped the run as Jones went end-to-end and finished with a layin to give the Irish a 60-34 lead.
The Irish moved ahead 83-43 when Carroll hit a pair of free throws with four minutes left, then pulled all their starters from the game.
IUPUI, which had just one basket in the final 6:45, shot just 24.3 percent from the floor.