Notre Dame Basketball: Irish topple Pitt in Bonzie Colson’s return
By Chase Eyrich
It was a historic night for Notre Dame basketball, as Bonzie Colson made his return, Mike Brey won his 400th game and the seniors went out the right way.
Bonzie Colson is back with Notre Dame basketball like he never left – only on limited minutes. After missing two months of basketball, Colson made his return on senior night and dominated. To start out the game it was all Colson, you couldn’t have drawn up a better come back.
The senior had eight of Notre Dame’s first 12-points including five-rebounds. He wasted no time as this was at the first media timeout.
It was only a matter of time before Notre Dame would be able to pull away from an inexperienced Pittsburg team. The Irish found their shooters including Temple Gibbs hitting a wide-open three to cap off a 16-0 ND run.
Pitt was able to find a little production as they tried to match the pace of Notre Dame. That production was just enough to actually stay with the Irish, but ND’s 16-0 run gave such a cushion that it wouldn’t matter.
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With the shooters getting open, Gibbs went into the locker room at half with 9-points. Coming into the game the Irish knew how important dominating the paint would be. On senior night, Martinas Geben took that upon himself. Nine-points and six-Rebounds for the big man was exactly what head coach Mike Brey was looking for.
The Irish would take a 39-23 lead as the first half ended.
Notre Dame came out of the locker room ready to put their foot back on the gas. The Irish were able to outmatch Pitt in many different areas. Pushing the ball down low and finding a cutting Matt Farrell, or pitching it back out to find a shooter. Notre Dame was able to do it all and open up an 49-33 point lead before the first media timeout of the half.
A long one handed bounce pass from Farrell to a cutting John Mooney showed just how well Notre Dame’s team chemistry was clicking. Not long after Mooney was on the other side of the assist, with a pass from the corner to the top of the key where Rex Pflueger knocked down a three. The Irish bounced back to a 46-64 lead.
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The passing continued to shine as Notre Dame put on a dominant performance in a 73-56 win. Mike Brey’s 400th win on senior night was much needed as the Irish take on No. 1 Virginia this Saturday to wrap up the regular season.