Box Score
Photos (Notre Dame site)
Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Host Notre Dame used an early 18-0 run to take command and the Fighting Irish shot 55 percent and forced 19 turnovers en route to an 82-39 win over Binghamton men's basketball Friday night at the Purcell Pavilion. The season-opener for both teams was broadcast on ESPN3.
Notre Dame used five BU turnovers in the game's opening four minutes to quickly forge a lead and a seven-minute scoring drought turned into a double-digit deficit for the Bearcats. Binghamton trailed 41-23 at the break and the hosts stretched their lead by hitting 8-of-11 to start the second half.
"It was a struggle," head coach
Tommy Dempsey said. "I told the guys this is our starting point ... it feels terrible but it's a 30-game season. If this is where we are to start the season, then we certainly have to get better and we will. We got our bell rung tonight and we have to respond and get back to practice. We'll grow from this."
Sophomore forward
Nick Madray hit a three-pointer in the game's first minute to give BU a 3-2 lead and Madray wound up with a team-high nine points in 16 minutes. Freshman wing
Justin McFadden chipped in eight points and four rebounds in 23 minutes of work.
Six-foot-10 forward Zach Auguste led four Notre Dame players in double figures with a game-high 19 points. Senior guard Pat Connaughton had 17 points and 10 rebounds.
On Saturday, the team departs South Bend for Providence and another tough matchup against the defending BIG EAST champion Friars on Monday night. Both games are preliminary games for the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament, which culminates next weekend at Mohegan Sun (Conn.).
