University of Connecticut Athletics
Notre Dame Edges Men's Basketball, 78-74
1/30/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (January 30, 2005) — Junior Torin Francis scored 19 points to lead four players in double figures as the University of Notre Dame took a 78-74 win over the University of Connecticut Sunday at the Joyce Center. With the win, Notre Dame improves to 13-5, 5-3 in the BIG EAST. UConn falls to 12-5 and 4-3 in league play.
UConn was led by junior Denham Brown’s 20 points on the afternoon, while freshman Rudy Gay added 16 points and sophomore Marcus Williams had ten points and tied his UConn school record with 16 assists.
In the final minute of play with the Irish holding a 76-74 lead, Marcus Williams stripped Chris Thomas in the backcourt and went the length of the court only to miss what would have been the tying layup. UConn was forced to foul and Thomas made a pair of free throws at the other end for the final difference.
Also in double figures for the Irish were senior Chris Thomas (15), senior Dennis Latimore (12) and junior Chris Quinn (12).
The Huskies shot 46.7% from the field on the afternoon, while the Irish hit on 42.6%. UConn held a 41-36 advantage on the boards and also had 23 assists on 28 field goals in the contest.
The Huskies held a 41-39 lead at intermission, as both teams shot the ball well from the floor in a fast-paced half of action. UConn shot 53.1% from the floor in the half, while the Irish hit on 48.6%. Torin Francis scored 12 points in the first half, while Denham Brown led the Huskies with 12 and Rudy Gay added eight. Marcus Williams had eight first half assists.
The first half saw two lead changes and eight ties. The Huskies led by as many as six points on a pair of occasions and the Irish led by as many as four points a pair of times. UConn jumped out to a 6-0 lead, but the Irish quickly responded with a 10-2 run and started the seesaw scoring between the schools.
UConn returns to action on Wednesday, February 2 with a 7:00 p.m. contest against the Wildcats of Villanova University at the Hartford Civic Center.
