Slap the Sign
Fansided

Notre Dame Basketball: Irish Defeat Mount Saint Mary’s in Home Opener 88-62

By Chase Eyrich

(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Notre Dame basketball team grabbed their second win of the season and their home opener with an 88-62 victory over Mount Saint Mary’s.

The win pushes Mike Brey to 384 wins, only 10 away from the school’s all-time win record held by Digger Phelps.

After getting off to slow starts, neither team really found a rhythm as they continued to keep things close. Notre Dame would go scoreless for over three minutes during one span.

The Irish shooting woes continued. Twice in the first half, Notre Dame would go on 0-7 shooting streak until Bonzie Colson and Rex Pflueger said enough was enough. The duo would lead the Irish to an 11-0 run fueled by the defense. The Irish forced three Mountaineers turnovers with just 4:12 left in the first. The Irish still struggling from behind the arc shooting only 2-10.

More from Slap the Sign

Pflueger sparked the Irish when the team most needed it. With just three points in the 36 minutes against DePaul, the Guard posted nine points and seven rebounds in the first half.

Colson found himself on the better half of a mismatch all night. He would walk into the locker room at half with 16 points and 6 rebounds.

With only an eight-point lead at halftime, Mike Brey made all the right adjustments coming out for the second half.

Notre Dame exploded on a 14-0 run, putting this game away with over 16 minutes left to play.

The three-point shooting from the guard-oriented Mountaineers desperately attempted to keep Mount Saint Mary’s in this one, but it was no match for the Irish.

Notre Dame did almost everything right in this one. Tonight, the Irish shot 94.7 percent from the charity stripe. Even the defense was alive with eight steals and six blocks. A well-rounded game for Notre Dame once things finally started to click late in the first half.

Next: 30 Things All Notre Dame Fans Should Do Before They Die

Pflueger had himself a career game with his first double-double at Notre Dame. Racking up 14 points and ten rebounds, career highs in both. But nothing stood out more than the dominant performance from Colson and his 27 points accompanied by 11 boards.

Next up

The 26-point win doubled as the #BreysChase win #384 and Colson’s 25th double-double. Notre Dame will stay at home this Thursday as they take on Chicago State with a 7 P.M. ET tip.