Jan. 15, 2008
Notre Dame Cincinnati Box Score
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) – Luke Harangody scored 24 of his 25 points in the second half and Kyle McAlarney added 22 points as Notre Dame shook off a poor-shooting first half to beat Cincinnati 91-74 Tuesday night.
The Fighting Irish (13-3, 3-1 Big East) had trailed only a total of 6:13 in 10 home games all season. But the Bearcats (8-9, 3-2) led most of the way until the Irish went on a 17-2 run with 16 minutes left in the game to take control.
Harangody, who was 0-for-5 from the floor in the first half, ignited the run when he drove the baseline and scored on a reverse layup to cut Cincinnati’s lead to 42-39. After Harangody made a pair of free throws, Ryan Ayers stole the inbounds pass as Notre Dame pressed and scored to give the Irish a 43-42 lead. McAlarney then hit the first of his four second-half 3 pointers, and Harangody scored again on an 8-foot jumper.
The Irish finished the run with a pair of 3s by Luke Zeller and McAlarney.
McAlarney scored 15 points in the second half, finishing 5-of-8 from 3-point range. Harangody was 6-of-9 in the second half. Rob Kurz, who was 0-of-5 from the floor in the first half, finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Kurz was 8-of-9 from the free-throw line as the Irish were 34-of-42 on free throws. Cincinnati was just 8-of-11 from the free-throw line. Deonta Vaughn, John Williamson and Larry Davis had 10 points each for the Bearcats.
The Irish shot only 24 percent in the first half, but shot 69 percent in the second half to win their 31st straight at home.