Ben Hansbrough scored 25 points including 6 consecutive free throws with the game on the line in the last 30 seconds to lead Notre Dame to a hard fought 76-69 victory over Rutgers.  Scott Martin added 14 points for the Irish; and Carleton Scott starred with 12 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocked shots.  Jonathan Mitchell led Rutgers with 24 points.

The Irish never relinquished the lead after Tim Abromaitis made a three point basket to give ND a 10-7 lead three and a half minutes into the game, put the persistent Scarlett Knights would refused to be subdued.  It looked like ND had taken charge of the game twice in the last 13 minutes, but Rutgers responded each time to pull within one score.  The Irish repelled the last threat in the final minute of the game as Hansbrough made free throws while Rutgers missed shots.

“You have to credit them,: Martin said after the game. “We came out and threw a punch, they took it, and came right back and threw one of their own. They are a very good team, and I think that says a lot about the power of this conference. The wins and losses may not look good, but they’re a good team. They played us tough, and they never quit. It was definitely a hard fought victory.”

Both teams shot well in a back-and-forth first half, Notre Dame 52% from the field and Rutgers 48%, as the Irish took a four point lead to halftime.  Rutgers was solid from three point range, 3-7, while the Irish were just 5-15 from long range. ND adjusted by attempting just two three point shots (both missed) in the second half while the Knights took more without the same good results.  They made just 4-13 in the second half.

As Notre Dame attacked the basket, Rutgers committed fouls.  ND was in the bonus four minutes into the half and the double bonus after the 14:22 mark.  Between RU’s fouls throughout the half and its intentional fouls at the end, the Irish went to the line 30 times in the second half and made 23.  Rutgers had just 8 attempts in the half, 6 converted.

It looked like ND had taken control of the game just past the 14:00 mark.  Martin made a pair of free throws; Abromaitis scored in the lane on a nice feed from Martin; Scott grabbed a defensive rebound, was fouled, and made both freebies; and the Irish looked like they putting Rutgers away with momentum and a 49-41 lead.

But noooooo.

Gilvydas Biruta was fouled in the post, and he made both free throws.  Then, after Abromaitis made a short jumper, Mitchell made a three, Martin missed a jump shot, and RU’s Austin Carroll made a three to cut the lead to two, 51-49.  Rutgers refused to die.

A minute later, Notre Dame went on a run; and once again Rutgers answered.

Abromaitis hit a jump shot to get the run going.  Then Scott blocked a shot to start a break that Martin finished with a nice spin move to the basket, Hansbrough drove for a layup, Scott and Ty Nash blocked shots on Rutgers’ next possession, and ND had a 60-51 lead after Hansbrough scored on another strong drive.

Mitchell responded with bookend threes to an exchange of free throws, and Rutgers was back in the game at 63-58 at the last media timeout.

Notre Dame stretched the lead back to eight, 68-60, with 2:42 to play highlighted by Scott’s thundering put-back dunk of his missed jumper, but Rutgers had one last counter punch.  Mitchell stole the ball in ND’s backcourt, scored on the drive, drew Nash’s fifth foul, and converted the three point play to cut the lead to five.  A fast break basket after Abromaitis missed a jump shot made it a three point game with 1:40 to play, and game was in doubt again.

“It was a night for our old guys to win the game,” said head coach Mike Brey. “They didn’t panic. We got the ball to the right guys to get to the foul line.”

Two of the old guys responded with poise at the line.  Martin and Hansbrough made eight in a row to seal the victory. Meanwhile, Rutgers didn’t score from the field again until there were just seven seconds to play and the game was decided.

Final Score: Notre Dame 76, Rutgers 69.

Noteworthy

• Brey was not worried about style points in getting the victory.  “That’s a great league win for us,” he said. “You can get into what should happen because we’re 8-3 and they’re 3-8. They’re a tough group that beat us last year. They kept game pressure on us. It was a hard game for us. It was good for our group because I think we’re going to be in a lot of games like this the rest of the way.”
• Notre Dame (19-4/8-3) is in sole possession of second place in the Big East.
• ND finally had a solid rebounding game with 36 to Rutgers’ 31.  Scott led with 11, and Abromaitis had 8.
• Led by Eric Atkins’ 6 assists (with just 1 turnover), passes led directly to 15 of ND’s 22 baskets (68%)
• Atkins improved his assist/turnover ratio to 2.6 in conference games, good for a first place tie with UConn’s Kemba Walker and DePaul’s Jeremiah Kelly.

Next

The Irish host third place Louisville (18-5/7-3) at 7:00 on Wednesday in Purcell Pavillion at the Joyce Center.  It’s “Paint the Pavillion Blue” night.  Navy blue T-shirts will be distributed while supplies last.  Regardless, wear a dark blue shirt to the game.  Is there anyone who doesn’t have one?

We’ll have a game preview for you on Tuesday evening.

– Kevin O’Neill