Spokesman-Review
National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Notre Dame 84, DePaul 76
When: 12:00 PM ET, Saturday, February 11, 2012
Where: Joyce Center, South Bend, Indiana
Officials: # Bill McCarthy, # Pat Driscoll, # Earl Walton
Attendance: 9149

NOTRE DAME 84, DePAUL 76: Jack Cooley posted a double-double and Notre Dame used a late 7-0 surge to get past visiting DePaul for its sixth consecutive victory.

The game was tied at 68-68 when DePaul head coach Oliver Purnell was whistled for a technical foul with 6:38 remaining. The Fighting Irish (17-8, 9-3 Big East) took advantage of the momentum shift, scoring seven points in the next 1:08 to take the lead for good. The stubborn Blue Demons (11-13, 2-10) clawed back to within three but were unable to complete their final comeback bid.

Cooley dominated the paint against the worst rebounding team in the Big East, scoring 22 points on 10-for-12 shooting and pulling down a game-high 14 boards. Notre Dame finished the game with a 32-23 advantage on the glass.

DePaul shot well from outside, making 9 of 16 3-point attempts, but it was unable to stop the Fighting Irish at the other end, particularly down the stretch. Notre Dame shot 67 percent (16 of 24) from the field in the second half while also connecting on 16 of 18 free throws.

Jerian Grant matched Cooley's 22 points for the Fighting Irish, while Eric Atkins added 14 points. Jeremiah Kelly and Cleveland Melvin paced four Blue Demons in double figures with 17 and 16 points, respectively.

GAME NOTEBOOK: DePaul forward Moses Morgan sat out Saturday's game after suffering a concussion against Marquette on Monday ... Notre Dame is 32-1 in its last 33 home games ... five of the last six meetings between the two schools have been decided by 10 points or less ... The Fighting Irish stay at home for a Wednesday game against Rutgers, while DePaul travels to Connecticut.
Top Game Performances
 
DePaul   Notre Dame
Jeremiah Kelly 17 Scoring Jack Cooley 22
Worrel Clahar 4 Assists Eric Atkins 6
Cleveland Melvin 6 Rebounds Jack Cooley 14
Jeremiah Kelly 2 Free Throws Made Jerian Grant 8
Donnavan Kirk 2 Steals Eric Atkins 3
Donnavan Kirk 2 Blocks Jack Cooley 4
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
DePaul 76 46.9 9-16 7-10 16 20 3 6 7
Notre Dame 84 59.6 6-16 16-18 18 31 5 4 12