The Notre Dame Men’s basketball team got in a tune up for the season with an exhibition game against the in-state Butler Bulldogs.
From the ND press release:
Irish Win First Exhibition, 77-76, at Butler
13 Irish played and four finished in double figures
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Basketball was officially back Friday night in the historical Hinkle Fieldhouse as two Indiana staples, Notre Dame and Butler, battled it out on the hardwood floor in a preseason exhibition. The Fighting Irish never trailed and led by as much as 16. Thirteen total Irish saw time on the floor and four finished in double figures.
If the stats officially counted, sophomore guard Cole Certa would have tied his career high of 12 points and set a new personal best for three-pointers made with four. Junior guard Markus Burton tied him for the team high with 12 points as well.
Sophomore guard Sir Mohammed would have netted his second career double-digit scoring game as he finished with 10 points. He converted 2-of-3 from deep.
Freshman Brady Koehler also shone with 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting. Fellow freshman, Jalen Haralson, impressed with seven points and team highs in rebounds (6) and assists (4).
How It Happened
The first five for Notre Dame consisted of Burton, Certa, Haralson, Sundra and Njie. The first Irish offensive possession saw great ball movement that ended with Njie in the paint dishing to Burton for the three. Later, a mini 5-0 run consisted of a Certa three at 14:46 followed immediately by a Haralson stop, spin and score to make it 12-6. The starting platoon left the court up 12-9 (three Bulldog treys from Finley Bizjack) at the first media at 13:36.
The next Irish five consisted of Shrewsberry, Imes, Mohammed, Koehler and Towt. The fresh wave were lifted by a pair of Mohammed three-pointers and a beautiful floater in the paint from Shrewsberry. As a result, the Irish pushed the lead to 20-12 by the 9:25 media. Notre Dame was 4-of-7 from deep at this point.
Out of the timeout, Mohammed drove and converted as he recorded a span in which he made eight of the team’s 10 points.
The Irish continued to find different ways to score: Njie powering down low, a Burton steal and breakaway and Certa’s second three of the game at 5:57, all resulted in a 13-point lead at 29-16.
Butler fought back and fired off a 13-0 run over the next three minutes to tie the game.
Burton answered the call with a tough drive and score in traffic. Next possession, Haralson drove and converted an and-one for a quick 5-0 scoring spurt. That score would hold as Notre Dame held Butler scoreless for the final 2:05 to take a 34-29 lead into halftime.
Fast forward to the 15:47 mark, Certa came up huge with back-to-back three-pointers to give the Irish a little room up 42-35. He was now 4-of-6 from deep.
Soon after, Koehler registered an offensive board and putback which was followed by a pair of Mohammed free-throws. The free throws not only pushed Mohammed into double figures, but also gave ND a 10-point lead.
At 11:23, Frost’s first bucket of the game drove the lead to 13, while the Irish defense limited Butler to a 1-of-10 shooting stretch from the field.
With 9:01 remaining, Notre Dame had built its largest lead of the game up, 61-45. It stemmed from a gritty steal from Imes which led to two free throws, followed by a corner three from Frost.
At the final media timeout at 3:59, the Irish were up nine and Coach Shrewsberry rode with Mohammed, Frost, Koehler, MacLellan and Stevens. The group dug deep and hung on for the eventual 77-76 win.
Up Next
The Fighting Irish will compete in one more exhibition but this one in the friendly confines of Purcell Pavilion. Notre Dame will host DePaul on Friday, October 24, at 6 p.m. ET.
