Nov 17, 2002
By TOM COYNE
AP Sports Writer
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Dan Miller had 19 points and Jordan Cornette had 13 rebounds and a school-record 11 blocked shots as Notre Dame set a school record with 19 blocked shots in a 76-48 victory over Belmont on Sunday in the first round of the Guardians Classic.
Cornette broke the school record of eight blocks and the Joyce Center record of 10, set by UCLA’s Bill Walton in 1973. Many of the blocked shots came during a decisive 35-5 run for Notre Dame, which opened a 60-26 lead midway through the second half.
The Irish (1-0), who already have clinched a berth in the Guardians Classic semifinals in Kansas City next week, face Indiana-Purdue-Indianapolis (1-0) Monday night in the second round. The Bruins (0-1) play Brown (0-1) in the loser’s bracket.
The Irish took control with a 15-0 run at the end of the first half, opening a 40-21 halftime lead. Miller scored six points during the run, including four points from the free-throw line, and Thomas added four points. The final two points came on a slam dunk by Torian Jones off a blocked shot by Cornette, his seventh and Notre Dame’s 13th of the half.
The Irish continued the run in the second half with a 20-5 spurt. Miller added seven points during the run and Torin Francis scored six. The Bruins had air balls on three consecutive possessions as they were held to 28.1 percent shooting for the game.
The previous Notre Dame record for blocked shots in a game was 12 set against Stonehill in 1977. The individual school record was eight set by LaPhonso Ellis against Kansas State in the National Invitation Tournament in 1992. Cornette had seven at halftime.
The smaller Bruins didn’t have a blocked shot.
Chris Thomas and Matt Carroll added 15 points each for the Irish. Steve Drabyn led the Bruins with 17 points and Adam Mark added 10 points.