March 1, 2006
Notre Dame at Providence Box Score
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) – Russell Carter had 21 points and Chris Quinn added 19 as Notre Dame went on a critical 9-0 run late in the game for a 82-75 win over Providence on Wednesday night.
Shauraud Curry had 25 to lead the Friars, who needed to win to have a chance of qualifying for the Big East tournament.
After Donnie McGrath hit a 3-pointer and Geoff McDermott hit one of two free throws to give the Friars a 60-59 lead with 7:05 to play, the Irish (14-12, 5-10) responded.
Torin Francis hit a pair of free throws to give Notre Dame the lead again. Quinn hit a runner and a 3-pointer, before Francis capped it off with a layup for a 68-60 lead with 3:36 to play. Francis finished with 18 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.
The Friars (12-14, 5-10) got as close as 68-66 on Curry’s 3-pointer with 2:11 to play, but Quinn responded with a basket at the other end and the Irish hit their free throws down the stretch.
Notre Dame was 21 of 25 from the line in the game, compared with 8 of 14 for the Friars.
The Friars spent most of the second half playing catchup, but struggled from the field. McDermott’s free throw gave them their only lead of the half.
The Irish shot 57 percent in the first half and took a 42-38 halftime lead behind Carter with 13 points and Francis with 10. Curry led the Friars with 14 in the first half.