Curtis Nash shoots over Notre Dame's Matt Carroll in the first half. |
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49ers Fall To Irish, 82-63
March 14, 2002
By PETE IACOBELLI
AP Sports Writer
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) - Notre Dame reached the NCAA tournament's second round for the second straight year, and ended Charlotte's run of opening-game successes.
Matt Carroll and Ryan Humphrey scored 20 points each, and David Graves added 19 as eighth-seeded Notre Dame defeated Charlotte 82-63 in the South Regional on Thursday night.
Charlotte star Jobey Thomas, who averages 19 points, had a stomach virus and needed intravenous fluids. The senior started but was not close to himself, finishing 2-of-12 from the floor for only five points, his lowest output of the season.
Without Thomas, the 49ers couldn't last against the more physical Irish (22-10).
Charlotte (18-12) had had won four straight first-round tournament games since 1997.
The game was tied at 35 at halftime, but Notre Dame opened the second period with a 29-10 run with big contributions from Carroll, Humphrey and Graves.
Humphrey started things with a putback basket, Graves caught a floor-length pass from Carroll for an easy jumper and, after freshman point guard Chris Thomas stole a lazy inbounds pass, Carroll knocked down a basket.
Graves' 3-pointer with 15:01 left put the Irish up 50-40.
Humphrey and Carroll had consecutive three-point plays as the lead grew to 12. Graves closed the run with his third 3-pointer, and Notre Dame led 64-45 with 7{ minutes remaining.
Carroll hit 4-of-5 3-pointers, while Humphrey added 11 rebounds and went 10-of-10 from the foul line.
Charlotte had only five field goals in the second half and shot 21-of-62 (33.9 percent) overall from the field.
Kevin Johnson's 10 points led the 49ers.
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