Photo by Emma Galeana
Notre Dame Basketball
Big Shot Steve Strikes Again, Irish Beat Canes 67-62
January 12, 2017
3,640
The 20th-ranked Irish(15-2, 4-0 ACC) took on the Miami Hurricanes(11-4, 1-2 ACC), Thursday night at the Watsco Center in Coral Gables. The Irish prevailed in an extremely close contest, 67-62. Matt Farrell found a cutting V.J. Beachem for the go-ahead bucket with 64 seconds left.
The win was the sixth consecutive for the Irish, now 4-0 in conference play. The win also broke Miami's 21-game winning streak at home and cost Hurricane coach Jim Larranaga a chance at his 600th career victory. The all-time series between the teams was tied 10-10 going into the game.
The Irish finished the game shooting just 37%, while the Hurricanes were just a little better at 38 percent. Farrell was the leading scorer with 15 points, including two three-pointers. Davon Reed had a big night with a game-high 21 points for the 'Canes. Kamari Murphy had 12 boards as well.
Bonzie Colson opened up the half with a three-pointer, his first of the night. The Irish opened the half with yet another 8-0 run to take an eight-point lead (their largest of the game) after a V.J. Beachem deep three. Ja'Quan Newton finally hit a shot for the Hurricanes bringing them to 38-30 and breaking a nearly nine-minute stretch spanning both halves of no made field goals. The Hurricanes were 0 for 10 during the span.
Colson finished with eight points and boards.
Notre Dame started to go cold from the field as the Hurricanes went on a mini 6-1 run to cut the lead to five after a strong drive by Davon Reed. Austin Torres however, answered the run with a huge put back slam off a miss from Vasturia. Farrell got the lead back to double digits with a big three-pointer as he had struggled all night from the field.
Torres gave the Irish eight points and two boards in just eight minutes off the bench.
The Irish led 50-39 at the midway point of the half after a spectacular three-point play by Beachem. But the Hurricanes wouldn't go away quietly after a couple loud rejections and a transition three by D.J. Vasiljevic cut the Irish lead to four with 8:02 left in the game.
The 'Canes tied the game with under seven minutes left after a corner three by Anthony Lawrence Jr. Farrell however, answered immediately with a three of his own as the Irish regained the lead. The Hurricanes second half surge continued as they took their first lead since the first half after a layup by Kamari Murphy. Consecutive baskets by Davon Reed gave the Hurricanes a 61-57 lead going into the final TV timeout with 2:46 to go. Two free throws by Colson tied the game with 1:35 left.
Jim Larranaga's squad jumped out to a 7-2 lead with Davon Reed putting in a few early buckets. Reed drilled a three a few minutes later to give the Hurricanes a 12-6 advantage. The Irish struggled to find offense, missing eight of their first eleven field goals, and struggled to control the ball, committing four turnovers in about eight minutes.
The Irish broke a long scoreless stretch with a transition layup by Torres. The Hurricanes led 15-10 at the halfway point of the first half, led by Reed's ten points. Thanks to some big transition buckets, the Irish hung close despite the shooting issues. The Irish took their first lead at 26-25 with four minutes left in the half on a Torres layup. The Irish shooting percentage crept up to 44% late in the half as their shots started to fall.
As the Irish got hot, the Hurricanes became ice cold from the field. Miami went nearly four minutes without a point and missed eight consecutive shots. During that stretch, Irish went on an 8-0 run, giving them a six-point lead. Some made free throws for the Hurricanes tied the game at 28 with a minute left in the half, but the Hurricanes failed to make a field goal in the final five minutes of the half.
The game remained 28-28 at halftime with Irish shooting 36% from the field and the Hurricanes shooting 35%. Reed led the 'Canes with 12 points at the break, while Steve Vasturia led the charge for the Irish with six points.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Steve Vasturia. The senior once against came up big in the final minutes of the game, as he hit a late bucket to give Notre Dame a 65-62 lead with just 6.9 seconds left in the game. Big Shot Steve finished with 10 points, six rebounds and six assists.
STAT LINE OF THE GAME: Miami had 12 blocks in the game, a season-high.
TURNING POINT: With the game tied at 61, Rex Pflueger stole a bobbled pass and the turnover lead to a Beachem layup to put the Irish up 63-61 with 1:04 left to play.
WHAT’S NEXT: Notre Dame will travel to Virginia Tech on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. ET.
The win was the sixth consecutive for the Irish, now 4-0 in conference play. The win also broke Miami's 21-game winning streak at home and cost Hurricane coach Jim Larranaga a chance at his 600th career victory. The all-time series between the teams was tied 10-10 going into the game.
The Irish finished the game shooting just 37%, while the Hurricanes were just a little better at 38 percent. Farrell was the leading scorer with 15 points, including two three-pointers. Davon Reed had a big night with a game-high 21 points for the 'Canes. Kamari Murphy had 12 boards as well.
Bonzie Colson opened up the half with a three-pointer, his first of the night. The Irish opened the half with yet another 8-0 run to take an eight-point lead (their largest of the game) after a V.J. Beachem deep three. Ja'Quan Newton finally hit a shot for the Hurricanes bringing them to 38-30 and breaking a nearly nine-minute stretch spanning both halves of no made field goals. The Hurricanes were 0 for 10 during the span.
Colson finished with eight points and boards.
Notre Dame started to go cold from the field as the Hurricanes went on a mini 6-1 run to cut the lead to five after a strong drive by Davon Reed. Austin Torres however, answered the run with a huge put back slam off a miss from Vasturia. Farrell got the lead back to double digits with a big three-pointer as he had struggled all night from the field.
Torres gave the Irish eight points and two boards in just eight minutes off the bench.
The Irish led 50-39 at the midway point of the half after a spectacular three-point play by Beachem. But the Hurricanes wouldn't go away quietly after a couple loud rejections and a transition three by D.J. Vasiljevic cut the Irish lead to four with 8:02 left in the game.
The 'Canes tied the game with under seven minutes left after a corner three by Anthony Lawrence Jr. Farrell however, answered immediately with a three of his own as the Irish regained the lead. The Hurricanes second half surge continued as they took their first lead since the first half after a layup by Kamari Murphy. Consecutive baskets by Davon Reed gave the Hurricanes a 61-57 lead going into the final TV timeout with 2:46 to go. Two free throws by Colson tied the game with 1:35 left.
Jim Larranaga's squad jumped out to a 7-2 lead with Davon Reed putting in a few early buckets. Reed drilled a three a few minutes later to give the Hurricanes a 12-6 advantage. The Irish struggled to find offense, missing eight of their first eleven field goals, and struggled to control the ball, committing four turnovers in about eight minutes.
The Irish broke a long scoreless stretch with a transition layup by Torres. The Hurricanes led 15-10 at the halfway point of the first half, led by Reed's ten points. Thanks to some big transition buckets, the Irish hung close despite the shooting issues. The Irish took their first lead at 26-25 with four minutes left in the half on a Torres layup. The Irish shooting percentage crept up to 44% late in the half as their shots started to fall.
As the Irish got hot, the Hurricanes became ice cold from the field. Miami went nearly four minutes without a point and missed eight consecutive shots. During that stretch, Irish went on an 8-0 run, giving them a six-point lead. Some made free throws for the Hurricanes tied the game at 28 with a minute left in the half, but the Hurricanes failed to make a field goal in the final five minutes of the half.
The game remained 28-28 at halftime with Irish shooting 36% from the field and the Hurricanes shooting 35%. Reed led the 'Canes with 12 points at the break, while Steve Vasturia led the charge for the Irish with six points.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Steve Vasturia. The senior once against came up big in the final minutes of the game, as he hit a late bucket to give Notre Dame a 65-62 lead with just 6.9 seconds left in the game. Big Shot Steve finished with 10 points, six rebounds and six assists.
STAT LINE OF THE GAME: Miami had 12 blocks in the game, a season-high.
TURNING POINT: With the game tied at 61, Rex Pflueger stole a bobbled pass and the turnover lead to a Beachem layup to put the Irish up 63-61 with 1:04 left to play.
WHAT’S NEXT: Notre Dame will travel to Virginia Tech on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. ET.
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