March 10, 2017
Notre Dame vs Florida State ACC Semifinals Box Score
By: Robby Hamman
BROOKLYN – For the second time in three years Notre Dame (25-8) is heading to the ACC Tournament Championship game, as the Irish defeated No. 2 seed Florida State (25-8) on Friday evening by a score of 77-73 at the Barclays Center. Notre Dame faces Duke on Saturday evening at 9 p.m. The game will air on ESPN.
Senior guard Steve Vasturia and junior forward Bonzie Colson led the team in scoring with 18 points apiece. Vasturia finished 7-of-13 from the field and an impressive 4-for-5 from three-point range. Junior guard Matt Farrell added 15 points and dished out a team-best six assists. Sophomore forward Matt Ryan provided the Irish a big spark off the bench, scoring 11 points after knocking down three shots from beyond the arc.
How It Happened
The Irish began the game attacking the Seminole defense from distance, as Notre Dame’s first 15 points came from three-point range. The Irish trailed 15-16 midway through the first half before absolutely controlling the final 10 minutes of the first frame. Notre Dame outscored Florida State 27-10 to take a 16-point lead at 42-26 into the half. The Irish shot 16-of-31 from the floor, including 8-of-15 from beyond the arc in the opening 20 minutes.
Notre Dame pushed its lead to 18 points at 49-31 just three minutes into the second stanza, its largest of the evening. The Seminoles outscored the Irish 17-8 over the next seven minutes to cut the Irish lead to nine points with 10 minutes to play. Notre Dame responded by increasing its advantage back to 13 points with under five minutes left in regulation. Florida State made one last run, but could not make up for the large deficit, as the Irish won by a score of 77-73.
Notre Dame Player Of The Game
Vasturia turned in an efficient offensive performance against Florida State, scoring 18 points. The senior thrived from beyond the arc, knocking down 4-of-5 three-point shots. Vasturia also caused havoc on the defensive end, swiping a team-high three steals. The guard also added two rebounds, two assists and a block in the victoy.
Stat Of The Game
Notre Dame won the turnover battle against Florida State, as the Irish recorded just nine turnovers and the Seminoles registered 18. Friday’s performance marked the 19th time this season that the Irish have posted fewer than 10 turnovers in a game. Notre Dame outscored Florida State 21-14 in points off turnovers.
Notre Dame Notes
- Notre Dame is 6-2 all-time in the ACC Tournament
- The Irish are 7-1 in program history when playing in the Barclays Center and have now won seven straight games in the venue.
- With the win the Irish advance to the ACC Tournament Final for the second time in the last three seasons.
- Notre Dame recorded just nine turnovers, marking the 19th time this season they have finished with fewer than 10 in a game.
- Notre Dame connected on 13 shots from beyond the arc, marking the 15th time it has made 10-plus three-pointers in a game, the most in the Mike Brey era.
- The Irish made eight shots from distance in the first half, matching the most Notre Dame has made against an ACC team in a first half in program history.
- With a made three-point shot in the first half, Farrell extended his streak of consecutive games with a make from distance to 23 games. The streak is the second best streak of any ACC player this season.
- Colson scored 18 points, marking the 31st time this season the junior has finished with 10-plus points.
- Thursday evening marked Steve Vasturia’s 134th career game in which he played, moving him into third place in program history for most games played in a career.
- Farrell surpassed the 10-point mark for the 28th time this season with 18 points.
- Vasturia finished with double-digit scoring for the 25th time this season and 75th time of his Irish tenure.
- Ryan’s 11-point performance was his third of the season and sixth of his career. The sophomore is now 5-of-7 from three-point range in the Barclays Center this season.
Up Next
The Irish will face Duke in the ACC Championship game on Saturday night at 9 p.m. in the Barclays Center. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
— 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.