Nothing like a little scare to get the tournament underway … unless you’re a Notre Dame fan, that is. With a 14-7 run as the clock ticked away, Northeastern had a chance to either tie or take the lead with less than a minute to play. But Notre Dame’s Jerian Grant tied up Northeastern’s Quincy Ford to force a turnover and seal a 69-65 win for the Irish.
The game was close throughout. Northeastern trailed by just four at the half in its first tournament appearance since 1991.
Impact Player
Notre Dame’s Grant had two key steals in the final two minutes of the game to secure the win. He finished with 17 points and 5 assists.
Turning Point
While Grant’s two steals at the end of the game were both turning points, a key point earlier in the second half came when Zach Auguste stopped a 9-0 Northeastern run with an old-fashioned 3-point play at the 13:47 mark. The play pushed the Notre Dame lead back to 5 … a lead that the Irish didn’t relinquish.
Strange, Yet True
Northeastern had more turnovers (17) than free throw attempts (10) in the game. The Huskies had 17 turnovers, compared to 10 free throw attempts.
Up Next
No. 3 Notre Dame survives to advance to face the winner of Texas/Butler later today. Northeastern finishes its season as the Colonial Athletic champion with a record of 23-12.
Dorm Room Hoops 