No. 24 Notre Dame Grinds Its Way Past Saint Peter's, 63-55

In one of the less aesthetic games played at Purcell Pavilion this year, No. 24 Notre Dame (11-2) finished the non-conference portion of its schedule with a 63-55 victory versus scrappy Saint Peter’s (5-7) on Wednesday evening.

Head coach Mike Brey said one of the reasons he scheduled the Peacocks is because they are “Virginia-like” in the way they have long possessions on offense and tenaciously jam people in defensively, much like head coach Tony Bennett’s Cavaliers, who have been undefeated against the Fighting Irish.

“It will be a reference point game for us,” said Brey of playing against Saint Peter’s methodical style. “It’s hard to play when guarding 25 seconds every possession … and it affects you on offense. You had to grind through it.”

Senior V.J. Beachem's 18 points (plus five rebounds and three assists) led three Fighting Irish players in double figures. Classmate Steve Vasturia tallied 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field (adding four rebounds and three assists), while junior Bonzie Colson contributed 10 points and a team high eight rebounds.

“We can’t get anywhere without our seniors playing well,” said Brey of Beachem and Vasturia specifically, who faltered in the lone two losses this season, to Villanova and Purdue.

Junior center Martin Geben also chipped in a quality 19 minutes with seven rebounds, two blocks, making 2-of-3 shots and playing solid post defense against leading scorer Quadir Welton, who was 2-of-11 from the field and scored only five points (nine below his average).

After a relatively uninspired 77-62 win versus Colgate on Dec. 19, and following a brief Christmas break, Notre Dame’s defense was the story in the first half against the Peacocks while building a 26-12 cushion that was cut to 33-23 at the intermission.

The Irish limited St. Peter’s to 10-of-30 shooting from the floor in the first 20 minutes, notably 2-of-13 from three-point range (15.4 percent). Notre Dame shot well (13-of-23 for 56.1 percent) the first 20 minutes, but committed eight first-half turnovers after entering the game with a national low of 8.8 per game (they would have six more in the second half for a total of 14).

Crucial to the outcome was an 8-0 Notre Dame run at the start of the second half that began with back-to-back threes by Vasturia and junior point guard Matt Farrell. A Colson drive into the lane for a lay-in provided a 41-23 advantage, the largest of the game. From there, the Peacocks stayed competitive and actually outscored the Irish 32-30 in the second half. They never came closer than the final eight-point margin, but missed what looked like an easy put-back that would have cut it to 55-48 with about 4:05 remaining.

The second half shooting wasn’t much better for Saint Peter’s — 10-of-26 compared to 10-of-30 in the first half — but the difference was it connected much better from beyond the arc, converting 5-of-11 attempts (45.5 percent) to keep it within striking distance.

Both teams were called for only 12 personal fouls apiece, as the officiating crew pretty much let each side play physically inside. Notre Dame was 9-of-13 from the foul line, while Saint Peter’s was 8-of-11.

Most of the possessions on both sides were one-and-done as well. The Irish outrebounded the Peacocks 37-28, but Saint Peter’s had the edge on the offensive end, 6-5. Both teams had only two second-chance points. It was the kind of game the Irish might need to get used to over the long term when conference play commences on Saturday afternoon at Pitt.

“Now we’re in a fist fight for two-and-a-half months,” said Brey, who believes a 9-9 ACC record this year might be good enough to earn an NCAA Tournament bid. “Let’s go and grind. We’re built to take the punches that will come at us, I believe.”

Notre Dame-Saint Peter’s Notebook

• When asked where he would rate his team as it is about to embark into league play, Brey responded that it would be a B-plus.

“We’d be in the ‘A’ range if we get one of the two [losses],” he said. “If you would have told me 11-2 after our first practice in the summer, I would have signed up for that.”

• The Irish head coach said his top concerns heading into ACC play are defensive rebounding and getting enough stops to take the pressure off playing too much half-court basketball.

• Sophomore guard Rex Pflueger committed his first turnover of the season late in the first half. He had played 218 minutes this season without one — and then had a second in the second half.

“I should take away his scholarship,” joked Brey, who actually was more relieved that Pflueger won’t have “The Streak” hanging over him heading into conference play.

• Another streak that ended was Farrell missing his first free throw of the season. He was 27-of-27 entering the game (with a streak of 31 dating back to last year), but missed the first of his two attempts versus Saint Peter’s.

• Although he was two rebounds away from another double-double, Colson’s seven this year are the most in the ACC and 10th nationally.

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