Nov 28, 2001
By TOM COYNE
Associated Press Writer
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) – Ryan Humphrey scored 14 points during a 19-0 run in the second half, finishing with 27 points, as Notre Dame beat Army 86-49 Monday night.
The Irish (6-0) are off to their best start since opening the 1992-93 season with seven straight victories. The loss kept Army (3-1) from opening with four straight wins for the first time since 1978-79 under Mike Krzyzewski, who now coaches Duke.
The 6-8 Humphrey, playing his first game at home after serving a two-game NCAA suspension for playing in summer league games, was simply too much for the smaller Black Knights.
He scored from underneath, consistently hit jumpers from about 10 feet, converted on two 3-point plays and even hit his eighth career 3-pointer as he made 12 of 15 shots. He also pulled down eight rebounds and had an assist when he dove on the floor and passed the ball ahead to Graves for an easy layup during the decisive run.
The 19-0 run, capped by a three-point play by Humphrey, gave the Irish a 61-32 lead. Army, which had trailed by as many as many as 16 in the first half, had cut the lead to 42-32 when Humphrey ignited the run with an 8-foot jumper.
Chris Thomas helped pace the Irish with 13 points and seven assists. On one play he stole the ball from Matt Collins in the backcourt, dribbled up to near halfcourt, then threw a long pass to Humphrey for a slam dunk. Thomas also had a behind-the-back pass to David Graves in the left corner for a 3-pointer.
David Graves added 20 points for the Irish and Matt Carroll had 12. Chris Spatola had 19 points and Matt Collins had 11 points and six rebounds. The Black Knights shot only 29.5 percent for the game.