Nov. 24, 2007
Notre Dame Youngstown State Box Score
NOTRE DAME, Ind. (AP) – Luke Harangody had 25 points, Kyle McAlarney added 23 and Notre Dame survived a late 12-0 run by Youngstown State to beat the Penguins 87-75 Saturday.
The Irish (3-2), who had squandered 10-point second-half leads in its previous two games, led by as much as 79-53 when Tory Jackson hit a free throw with 7:06 left. But John Barber and Gemayl Johnson hit 3-pointers and Vance Cooksey added two more to cut the lead to 83-65. Then Jack Liles hit a pair of baskets inside to cut the lead to 83-69.
The Penguins closed to 84-75 after Johnson scored inside and Cooksey stole the inbounds pass and scored again. The Irish then hit three of its four free throws to put the game away.
Both Harangody and McAlarney had career high in points as the Irish won for the 22nd straight time at home. The consecutive home victory streak at the Joyce Center, which opened in 1968, is 24, set from 1973-74.
Harangody also matched his career high in rebounds with 13. Zach Hillesland added 10 points for the Irish.
Barber led the Penguins with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Liles had 17 points and eight rebounds, Byron Davis added 14 points and Cooksey had 13 for Youngstown State. After scoring just 10 points in the paint in the first half, Youngstown State scored 24 points inside to make a run at the Irish.
Dominating inside in the first half, Notre Dame steadily pulled away for most of the opening period. The Irish opened a 37-24 lead when Ryan Ayers hit a 3 and Harangody scored a quick pair of baskets inside. After Barber hit a 12-foot jumper for Youngstown State, the Irish ended the half on a 16-5 spurt to lead 53-31 at intermission.