Notre Dame vs. CSUN Final Box Score
The University of Notre Dame men’s basketball team began the 2021-22 season with a 68-52 victory over CSUN (0-2) in Purcell Pavilion on Saturday afternoon. The victory marks the 22nd-straight home opening victory for the Irish under Glenn and Stacey Murphy Head Men’s Basketball Coach Mike Brey.
Guard Blake Wesley led all scorers with 21 points, becoming just the second freshman of the Brey era to reach 20 points in his debut game with Notre Dame. Chris Thomas scored 24 points in a first-game victory over New Hampshire on November 16, 2001. Senior forward Dane Goodwin connected on a career-best six three-point field goals to score 18 points, while graduate student Paul Atkinson Jr. enjoyed his first game in a Notre Dame uniform with 16 points and six rebounds.
Atkinson started the scoring for the Irish with a spin move to the basket and Wesley connected on his first official career field goal attempt, a three-point shot, to give Notre Dame an early 8-4 lead. Goodwin then helped push the lead to 16-9 by starting three-of-four from behind the arc.
The Irish earned a 32-26 advantage at halftime on the strength of Wesley’s 13 points, while Atin Wright from CSUN kept the visitors in reach with 12 points on four first-half three point shots.
Following a pattern established in two exhibition victories, Notre Dame looked to Atkinson to kick start the second half and he answered the call, scoring five points early in the game’s second 20 minutes – including earning two trips to the free throw line.
Notre Dame’s defense would step up to hold CSUN to 43.8 percent shooting in the contest, force 16 turnovers and shut down Wright to just one field goal attempt in the second half.
The Irish eventually pulled away with a key 7-0 run midway through the second half, highlighted by Cormac Ryan finding in transition Goodwin for a corner three pointer and Notre Dame never relinquished control of the contest.
NOTES: The Irish are now 22-0 in home openers in the Mike Brey era (2000-01 – current) and 20-2 in season openers • Wesley’s double-digit scoring performance marks the sixth time a freshman has reached double-digit points in his debut under Mike Brey • teammates Nate Laszewski (12), Robby Carmody (11) and Dane Goodwin (10) all reached double figures in their debuts against UCF on November 6, 2018 • Luke Harangody scored 12 points against IPFW in 2006 and Chris Thomas recorded 24 points against New Hampshire on November 16, 2001 • Paul Atkinson Jr. scored double-digit points for the 31st consecutive game.