RALEIGH, N.C. – It was a rollercoaster of a game for a Notre Dame men’s basketball team (9-12, 1-9) in search of its first ACC road win. From down 11 to up seven in the first half, to rallying down nine in the second half to down just one against a talented (RV/RV) NC State (16-5, 6-4) squad. Trailing just 73-76 with under two minutes remaining, the Wolfpack were able to pull away and close out the 85-82 win.
The 82 points were the most scored by the Irish on the road this season and tied for the second most overall. They shot 28-of-54 from the field aka 51.9 percent and converted nine threes to go with 17-for-21 from the free-throw line.
The Irish also outrebounded a taller Wolfpack squad, 41-32. The big difference maker in tonight’s contest – Notre Dame’s 15 turnovers in which NC State converted into 18 points. Meanwhile, NC State recorded just two. The Wolfpack shot 28-for-68 from the field (41.2 percent) and 23-for-27 from the line.
Cormac Ryan got back into form with a team-best 19 points behind a 5-for-6 performance from three-point range. Freshman JJ Starling had his highest points total since Florida State on Dec. 21, pouring in 18 tonight. Starling was 7-for-14 from the field and grabbed seven boards as well, one shy of his season high.
Dane Goodwin extended his double-digit scoring streak to nine games with 11 points. Marcus Hammond was in double figures for the third time in the past four games with 11 as well. Hammond also dished out a season-best four assists.
Finally, Ven-Allen Lubin contributed great minutes tonight with 10 points and five rebounds. It marked his fourth double-digit scoring effort on the year.
How It Happened
Notre Dame started 5-for-8 from the field, with four different starters registering points. As a result, the Irish jumped out to a 12-8 advantage. Then a series of unfortunate events occurred after a flurry of Irish fouls.
NC State finished on an and-one, then was fouled on a three-point shot and made two, missing the last one. On the free-throw rebound, the Irish knocked it out of bounds and on the next play the Wolfpack buried a three for a very quick 8-0 run.
With momentum on their side, NC State extended the run to a 17-2 scoring spree to build a 25-14 lead with 10:41 on the clock. Not to mention, Laszewski was sent to the bench with three fouls.
Next, it was Notre Dame’s turn for a response and they did so with a 13-2 scoring run behind a pair of threes from Ryan and one from Goodwin. It was a methodical run over a four-minute span in which the game was tied at 27-all.
From 5:10-2:51, Notre Dame made four straight from the field, all from different players (Wertz, Lubin, Starling and Hammond), and just like that, were up 36-31. The Irish kept attacking and were sent to the line as they maintained their lead heading into the half, up 42-39.
Notre Dame committed four turnovers in the first four minutes of the second half, plus the Wolfpack earned an 11-0 run, and the Irish found themselves in another hole, down 46-55.
Ryan got the squad back on track with two free throws and a three-pointer for a personal 5-0 run. Shortly thereafter, Goodwin knocked down a big three and then Starling broke down a defender 1-v-1 and finished, making it five straight field goals and a 61-63 game.
Lubin, back in the game, got to double-digit points at the 6:30 mark, keeping it a one-possession game. Fast forward to 4:59 and Ryan ups his stat line to 5-for-5 from three and the Irish are within one, down 68-69.
Yet it seemed for every punch ND had, NC State had a response, and with 3:34 remaining the Irish were down seven. Notre Dame tried to rally as the combo of Goodwin and Starling cut it to 73-76 with 1:51 left. And as much as the Irish were converting from the charity stripe, what doomed them was an 0-for-4 field goal stretch from 2:49-0:49, as the gap was increased to 73-80 with 30 seconds left. NC State then rode that momentum to the 85-82 final.
Up Next
The Irish are back in Purcell Pavilion this weekend for a Saturday matinee against Louisville. Tip is set for Noon ET on ESPN2.
— ND –