Nate Laszewski and Dane Goodwin each recorded double-doubles to help host Notre Dame edge Detroit Mercy 78-70 in the Fighting Irish's home opener on Sunday night.
The Irish (1-1) finally opened their home schedule after three previous games against different opponents were cancelled or postponed due to COVID-19 concerns.
Detroit Mercy (0-2) took its only lead of the second half at 63-62 with 5:53 left on a corner jumper by Antoine Davis. Notre Dame answered quickly with a Goodwin jumper and a 3-pointer from Cormac Ryan that ignited a 12-0 run and put the game away.
Laszewski finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Juwan Durham totaled 12 points, nine rebounds and four blocks as they helped Notre Dame control the paint. Goodwin led the Irish's backcourt with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Prentiss Hubb led the Fighting Irish in scoring with 18 points and posted a game-high eight assists as all five Notre Dame starters scored in double figures. Ryan finished with 12 points, six assists and five rebounds.
Goodwin, Ryan and Hubb did a solid job collectively on defense slowing down Davis, a Horizon League first-team selection, and contesting most of his shots from the perimeter.
Davis was held scoreless until he hit a top-of-the-key 3-pointer with 9:33 left in the first half. Davis finished with 14 points on 5-of-19 shooting, but missed 11 of his first 12 shots, while making only 1 of his first 7 attempts from 3-point range.
The Titans shot 28.6 percent (8 of 28) from 3-point range and outrebounded the Fighting Irish 11-8 on the offensive glass despite being outrebounded 42-39 overall.
Bul Kuol hit his first three shots and led the Titans with 18 points and six rebounds.
Matt Johnson (15 points, five rebounds) and Marquell Fraser (12 points, seven rebounds) - both key transfer additions - also contributed for Detroit Mercy, which lost its second game against a Power 5 conference opponent to open the season.
Both teams have lost to Michigan State this season.
--Field Level Media
Detroit Mercy | Notre Dame | |
Bul Kuol 18 | Scoring | Prentiss Hubb 18 |
Antoine Davis 3 | Assists | Prentiss Hubb 8 |
Willy Isiani 10 | Rebounds | Nate Laszewski 11 |
Matt Johnson 3 | Free Throws Made | Juwan Durham 2 |
Marquell Fraser 2 | Steals | Prentiss Hubb 1 |
Willy Isiani 2 | Blocks | Juwan Durham 4 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Detroit Mercy | 70 | 38.0 | 8-28 | 8-10 | 13 | 37 | 2 | 5 | 7 |
Notre Dame | 78 | 46.2 | 11-23 | 7-9 | 19 | 41 | 5 | 3 | 8 |