SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) – Senior reserve forward Elijah Burns came off the bench to score a career-high 15 points to lead four players in double figures as Notre Dame won its second game in three nights with an 89-62 victory over visiting Chicago State on Thursday.
Nate Laszewski added 12 points, D.J. Harvey 11 and T.J. Gibbs 10 for coach Mike Brey’s youthful Irish (2-0), who blew an 18-point first-half lead but pulled away in the second half against the Cougars (0-2).
Cameron Bowles led four Chicago State players in double figures with 15 points. Anthony Harris and Delshon Strickland had 13 points each and Christian Jacob had a double-double – 12 points (10 in the first half) and 11 rebounds.
Notre Dame started strong, hitting 11 of its first 16 shots (69 percent) to take a 28-10 lead. But the Irish went cold over the final 11:29, hitting just 4 of 17 (24 percent) while the Cougars chipped away, eventually tying the game 35-35 on Rob Shaw’s runner down the lane with 1:53 left in the half.
But Burns made a nifty basket with his left hand driving to the basket and Laszewski’s 25-footer with five seconds remaining provided a 40-35 halftime lead despite 10 points and eight rebounds by Jacob.
The Irish put it away after the intermission with a 12-0 run in the first 2:57.
Burns and Gibbs each scored three points in the first 2:07 of the second half as the Irish opened up a 46-35 lead before Chicago State coach Lance Irvin called a timeout. Burns then completed a 3-point play after his slam dunk and Rex Pflueger canned a 3-pointer to put the Irish back in command again, 52-35, with 17:03 to play.
Notre Dame’s lead reached 32 points with 6:02 remaining on two free throws by freshman Robby Carmody.
