NOTRE DAME 71, RUTGERS 53: Jack Cooley had 22 points and 18 rebounds for his third straight double-double as the No. 25 Fighting Irish used a second-half run to pull away for its seventh straight victory.

Cooley helped key a 14-3 surge early in the second half that allowed the host Fighting Irish (18-8, 10-3 Big East) to stretch their lead to a comfortable 51-36 with 10:07 remaining. Cooley and Eric Atkins each scored five points during the decisive spurt.

Notre Dame shot only 29.6 percent (8 for 27) in the first half, but six of their made baskets came from 3-point range, allowing it to go into the locker room with a slim 33-28 edge. The Fighting Irish shot 52 percent (12 for 23) in the second half.

Dane Miller had 10 points and 10 rebounds in the first half for the Scarlet Knights (12-14, 4-9), but had only one point and two rebounds after the break. Rutgers hit just 3 of its 14 3-point attempts.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Rutgers, which handed Notre Dame its last defeat 65-58 on Jan. 16, has lost its last eight games in South Bend, dating back to a 72-70 victory in 1999. ... Notre Dame finished with a 20-12 rebounding edge in the second half. ... The Fighting Irish travel to Villanova on Saturday, the first of three road games in a four-game stretch. ... The Scarlet Knights host No. 2 Syracuse on Sunday.