Feb. 12, 2018
Notre Dame at North Carolina Box Score
By Robby Hamman
NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Senior Martinas Geben and sophomore John Mooney scored 18 points apiece for Notre Dame (15-11, 5-8 ACC) at North Carolina (20-8, 9-5 ACC) on Monday evening in the Dean Smith Center but the Irish fell to the Tar Heels by a score of 83-66.
The 18 points from Mooney marked a career-high for the sophomore. Geben added a team-high seven rebounds to go along with his 18 points. The other Notre Dame player to finish in double figures in the scoring column was sophomore T.J. Gibbs, who scored 10 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Despite shooting just 36 percent (10-for-28) in the opening 20 minutes, the Irish trailed by just four at the half with the score 38-34. Notre Dame led 5-2 early before senior big man Martinas Geben was saddled with his second foul, forcing him to sit the rest of the half. The Tar Heels then led for the remainder of the half but the long-range shooting from Mooney kept the Irish in the game.
North Carolina increased its lead to as many as 10 points with over 13 minutes left in regulation but Notre Dame dug in and responded with an 11-2 run over the next four minutes of play to cut the host’s lead to just one at 58-57 off a three-pointer from Gibbs. However, that is as close as the Irish would get the rest of the way. The Tar Heels found their shooting touch in the latter stages of the game and pulled away to win 83-66.
NOTRE DAME PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Mooney kept the Irish in the first half, pouring in 15 points by going 5-for-5 from the three-point arc. The sophomore finished a perfect 6-for-6 from beyond the arc to total a career-high 18 points. The six made threes mark a career high for the forward. Mooney also grabbed six rebounds and came up with a steal to complete his evening.
Geben was Notre Dame’s most efficient player on the floor in Chapel Hill, scoring 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the floor. The forward also led the team in rebounds with seven and added a block and a steal. The senior played just logged 17 minutes of action since he had to sit for the majority of the first half with two fouls.
NOTES OF THE GAME
- Notre Dame knocked down 10 three-pointers against the Tar Heels, marking the 11th time the Irish have finished with 10 or more in a game during the 2017-18 campaign.
- Mooney reached double digits in scoring for the sixth time this season.
- Senior Matt Farrell dished out a season-high nine assists against the Tar Heels
- Gibbs has recorded 10-plus points in 21 outings this season, including 14 straight.
- Geben has finished in double figures in the scoring column 15 times during his senior campaign.
UP NEXT
The Irish remain on the road, traveling to the east coast this weekend to take on Boston College at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, Feb. 17. The game will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra/ESPN3 via the WatchESPN app.
— ND —
Robby Hamman joined Fighting Irish Media as athletics communications assistant director in September 2016, coordinating efforts for the volleyball and men’s lacrosse program. Hamman is a 2010 graduate of Bethel College, where he earned bachelor’s degrees in sport management and business administration, and earned his master’s degree in business administration from Defiance College in 2013.