Kyle McAlarney

Notre Dame Defeats Eastern Michigan, 76-65

Dec. 1, 2007

Notre Dame Eastern Michigan Box Score

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) – Kyle McAlarney scored 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting and Luke Harangody added 18 points to lead Notre Dame to a 76-65 victory Saturday night over Eastern Michigan, the 24th straight home victory for the Fighting Irish.

The Eagles (3-4) trailed only 35-32 when Justin Dobbins, who led Eastern with a career-high 26 points, scored inside with 4:34 left in the first half. But the Irish (5-2) ended the first half on an 8-0 run, then opened the second half on a 6-0 run to open a 49-32 lead. The Eagles never got closer than the final score.

Ryan Ayers added 12 points as the Irish shot a season-high 56.3 percent despite getting just 11 points from its bench. McAlarney was 5-of-7 from 3-point range and Ayers was 3-of-4. Harangody was 7-of-12 shooting and added seven rebounds. Zane Gay added 14 points for the Eagles on 5-of-5 shooting. The Eagles shot 48 percent.

After missing its opening shot, the Irish made their next six en route to opening a 17-7 lead. But Dobbins made four straight baskets to spark a 12-1 run, giving the Eagles a 21-20 lead midway through the first half. The Irish, who shot 62 percent for the half, quickly regained the lead and led 43-32 at intermission.

The Irish tied the school record for consecutive wins at the Joyce Center, which was built in 1968. Their last loss at home was 80-72 to Marquette on Feb. 25, 2006. The school record for home wins is 38 straight set in the old Fieldhouse from 1943-48.