Feb. 23, 2000
Postgame Audio
- Coach Doherty
- T. Murphy
By JR ROSS
Associated Press Writer
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) – Donta Wade scored a career-high 38 points – including a Big East record 10 3-pointers – as Providence beat Notre Dame 89-79 on Wednesday.
Wade averaged 6.8 points a game and 31.6 percent shooting from 3-point range coming into the game. But he was 10-of-17 from behind the arc, both Big East records, and bettered his career high in scoring by 14 points.
The Irish (16-11 overall, 7-6 Big East) trailed by double digits less than five minutes into the game, thanks to Wade’s hot hand, as the Friars (10-16, 3-10) hit eight of their first 10 shots.
They fought back to within five points midway through the second half when Jimmy Dillon hit a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 56-51, Providence’s smallest lead since 3:01 into the game. But the Friars responded with a 13-1 run – including three Wade 3-pointers – for a 69-52 advantage, their biggest lead of the game.
Notre Dame never seriously threatened again.
Erron Maxey scored 17 points for the Friars, while Abdul Mills had 14.
Troy Murphy, the Big East’s leading scorer at 23.5 points a game, scored 22 to lead Notre Dame. But Providence held him scoreless for more than 13 minutes between the first and second halves.
They also harassed him into shooting 7-of-17 from the field in a game the Irish needed to win to improve their shot at making the NCAA tournament for the first time since the 1989-90 season.
Matt Carroll scored 17 for Notre Dame, and David Graves added 15.
Providence led 42-33 at halftime.