Notre Dame men grind out basketball win over Colgate

SOUTH BEND – Back at home, back in gear and back on track for No. 25 Notre Dame.

Sort of.

In a game that wasn't always easy on the eyes for myriad reasons, the Irish snapped their two-game losing streak with a 77-62 victory over Colgate at Purcell Pavilion.

Notre Dame never trailed and led by as many as 21. The Irish committed a season-high 14 turnovers.

V.J. Beachem led the Irish with 20 points.

Notre Dame took a 16-point lead at intermission despite scoring a season-low 36 points in the first half. The Irish couldn’t get in gear thanks in large part to 10 turnovers. Notre Dame averaged a national-best eight coming into the contest.

On the flipside, the 20 points allowed in the first half were a season low for Notre Dame, which held Colgate to 20.8 percent from the field, 18.2 percent from 3.

The Irish led by five, by six and by seven points the first 12 minutes but couldn’t get much separation. It wasn’t for a lack of trying. After playing at such a high level the last two first halves against top-ranked Villanova and No. 15 Purdue – both losses – Notre Dame was a whole lot sluggish early Monday.

It showed.

Still, when Matt Ryan connected on a 3 late in the first half, it bumped the Irish advantage to 10 (25-15). It also marked the 12th time in as many games that the Irish have led by double digits at least once.

Notre Dame closes non-conference play Dec. 28 at home against Saint peter’s before opening Atlantic Coast Conference play Dec. 31 at Pittsburgh. It will be the first true road game for the Irish.