By By DAN WEISS / Niles Daily Star
NOTRE DAME, Ind. -- The Notre Dame men's basketball team survived torrid shooting by the American Eagles to escape with a 78-74 victory Sunday in the Joyce Center.
The Eagles (3-6) made 29-of-46 (63 percent) from the field, including 10-21 (47.6 percent) from beyond the 3-point arc. American also went on a 12-minute stretch without missing a shot in the second half.
American took the lead with 15:32 left in the second half and held it for the next 13 minutes. Notre Dame (4-3) regained the lead on a pair of free throws by Chris Thomas with 2:02 left and the Irish never again lost the lead.
Thomas scored 13 of Notre Dame's last 17 points, including six free throws and two field goals in the last 3:19 of the game.
Thomas led all scorers with 28 points. He also handed out five assists.
Chris Quinn came off the bench to score 19 points for Notre Dame, including a 5-of-7 performance from 3-point range. Torin Francis scored 13 points and pulled down seven rebounds.
Andre Ingram led the Eagles with 23 points and Matej Cresnik scored 21, including five 3-pointers. Andres Rodriguez nearly reached a double-double with 13 points and nine assists. Jernavis Draughn also helped the Eagles with 10 points.
The Irish return to action Tuesday night at home against Quinnipiac and then round out the 2003 portion of their schedule with a home game against Morehead State on Sunday.
Notre Dame….78
American……..74
Notre Dame: Jordan Cornete 1 0-0 3, Torin Francis 4 5-6 13, Crhis Thomas 8 9-10 28, Colin Falls 3 0-0 9, Torrian Jones 2 2-2 6, Chris Quinn 6 2-2 19. Totals: 24 18-20 78
American: Jernavis Draughn 5 0-0 10, Jarrod Kohl 0 0-0 0, Andres Rodriguez 6 0-0 13, Jason Thomas 1 0-0 3, Andre Ingram 8 4-5 23, Raimonda Petrauskas 0 0-0 0, Jamaal Caterina 0 0-0 0, Patrick Okpwae 2 0-0 4, Matej Cresnik 7 2-2 21, Linas Lekavicius 0 0-0 0. Totals: 29 6-7 74
Halftime score: American 35, Notre Dame 34
3-point shooting: Notre Dame 12 (Quinn 5, Falls 3, Thomas 3, Cornette), American 10 (Cresnik 5, Ingram 3, Thomas, Rodriguez). Team fouls (fouled out): Notre Dame 11 (none), American 18 (none). Team records: Notre Dame 4-3, American 3-6