Irish Utilize Second Half Burst To Take Down NC State

ND MBB vs. NC State Box Score

The University of Notre Dame men’s basketball team (13-6, 6-2) took advantage of a 15-0 run to erase a five-point second half deficit and defeat NC State (10-11, 3-7) 73-65 in Purcell Pavilion on Wednesday night. 

The Irish were led by a double-double performance from senior Nate Laszewski with 18 points and 11 rebounds while classmate Dane Goodwin finished with 17 points and eight rebounds. Freshman Blake Wesley added 15 points with six rebounds and four assists as part of a steady backcourt with senior Prentiss Hubb who played all 40 minutes with 11 points, five assists and zero turnovers.

Dereon Seabron led all scorers in the game with 21 points for the Wolfpack. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

The game featured a long run of uninterrupted play early, as the first media timeout would not be called until there was 12:37 remaining in the first half. Notre Dame earned an 11-10 advantage at that stop, scoring four baskets in the paint along with a three pointer from Hubb. 

Both teams struggled on the offensive end to close out the first half. The Irish and Wolfpack went close to three minutes without a field goal and the game ended up tied 30-30 at halftime. Goodwin led the Irish with eight first half points, while Laszewski contributed seven. 

NC State was able to build a quick five point lead in the first few minutes of the second half to force an Irish timeout. After that timeout, the Notre Dame offense responded in a quick, efficient and breathtaking manner. 

Laszewski was the catalyst of the streak, scoring eight straight points with back-to-back three pointers, then a drive for a dunk. A Goodwin lay up pushed the run to 10, then Laszewski made it 13 with a transition three pointer followed by a Hubb drive for two more points. 

The Irish had turned a 30-35 deficit into a 45-35 lead in just over three minutes of action. 

NC State fought back to cut the lead to three points taking advantage of an Irish scoring drought but a timely three pointer from Goodwin put the Irish back up six. 

Each time NC State nibbled into the lead the Irish would respond. A Wesley steal and break away lay up pushed the advantage to eight. A step back three pointer from Hubb sent the lead back into double digits. 

At the four minute mark NC State was able to cut the lead back to six points. Wesley snuffed out the momentum with five straight points – three from the free throw line – and put together the back breaking play of the game. 

At around the one-minute mark there was still a bit of light for the Wolfpack, down two possessions at 65-69. Wesley assumed control of the ball as the shot clock was winding down, drove into the lane and found a wide open Goodwin in the corner right in front of the Irish bench. 

The three pointer gave the Irish a nine point lead with 55 seconds remaining and closed the door on any hope of an NC State comeback. 

NEXT UP

Notre Dame will continue its three-game home stand against Virginia on Saturday, January 29, at 6 p.m. ET (ACC Network). 

NOTES

Notre Dame improved to 9-0 in 2021-22 when they connect on 10-or-more three pointers in a game (the team hit 11 tonight) • the Irish are 8-0 at Purcell Pavilion this season • the victory over NC State ended a four-game streak of victories by the Wolfpack in the series and gave Notre Dame a 9-8 advantage in the all-time series • the double-double for Nate Laszewski was the fourth of the season and eight of his career • Dane Goodwin pushed his career-best double-digit scoring streak to 19 games (each game this season) • Blake Wesley pushed his Notre Dame true freshman record double-digit scoring game streak to 16 games.