Cooley, Notre Dame Cruise Past Sacred Heart 106-65
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Jack Cooley scored 19 points and pulled down eight rebounds, leading hot-shooting Notre Dame to a 106-65 win Monday over Sacred Heart.
Cooley, who also blocked three shots, was 7 of 7 from the field and 5 of 6 from the line. Jerian Grant added 15 points and seven assists for the Fighting Irish (8-5), who shot 61 percent (35 of 57) from the field, including 53 percent (9 of 17) on 3-pointers, in recording their 27th consecutive home victory. Eric Atkins scored 13 points, and Alex Dragicevich and Joey Brooks had 12 apiece.
Notre Dame got 27 points at the free-throw line on 34 attempts, to only 15 for Sacred Heart.
Shane Gibson scored 22 points for the Pioneers (6-7), leaving the senior 11 points shy of 1,000 for his career.
With a victory in its final nonconference game of the season, Notre Dame improved its record against current Northeast Conference teams to 26-0.
Sacred Heart led by as many as many as seven points in the first half, but the Irish responded with a 9-0 run to take a 32-30 lead. They took advantage of eight first-half turnovers by the Pioneers, ultimately leading 48-37 at halftime.
Notre Dame made 17 field goals in the first half — one more than in the Irish's previous game, a loss Saturday to Indiana. They kept up the hot shooting in the second half, opening with an 11-0 run for a 59-37 lead.
The Irish used the same starting lineup as in Saturday's game, but better shooting from the floor proved to be the difference.
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