November 24, 1996

Irish Down Monmouth In Season Opener

NOTRE DAME, Ind. -- Pat Garrity poured in a game-high 26 points to lead Notre Dame to a 73-66 victory over Monmouth at the Joyce Center in the season opener for both teams.

Garrity, a junior forward, was 4-for-5 from three-point range and finished the night 8-of-13 from the field.

Notre Dame led for the majority of the first half and took a 28-21 lead on a Garrity three-pointer with 5:30 remaining in the half.

However, Monmouth, which shot 52 percent from the floor in the opening half, closed with a 10-2 run to take a 31-30 lead into halftime.

After the two teams traded leads early in the second half, Notre Dame took command of the game behind a couple of key baskets by David Lalazarian.

With the Irish trailing 41-40, the freshman forward slammed home a pass from Admore White, and then buried a 14-foot jumper 37 seconds later. The two baskets ignited a 10-0 Irish run and gave Notre Dame the lead for good.

Notre Dame shot 52 percent from the floor and made 18-of-23 foul shots in the second half to pull out the victory.

Lalazarian and Keith Friel both added 12 points for the Irish, while Derek Manner chipped in with nine.

Mustafa Barksdale paced Monmouth with 18 points.

NOTRE DAME 73, MONMOUTH 66

Monmouth -- Quincy 4-14 1-2 10, Albano 4-10 1-5 9, Aidietis 6-8 0-1 12, Franklin 2-7 0-1 4, Barksdale 6-10 4-4 18, Williams 5-7 0-0 13. Totals 27-56 6-14 66.

Notre Dame -- Manner 4-6 1-2 9, Garrity 8-13 6-6 26, Gotsch 0-0 3-4 3, White 1-8 3-4 6, Miller 1-4 0-0 3, Lalazarian 5-6 2-3 12, Friel 3-9 5-6 12, Hickey 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 23-48 20-25 73.

Halftime: Monmouth 31, Notre Dame 30. Three-point goals: Monmouth 6-15 (Williams 3), Notre Dame 7-17 (Garrity 4). Rebounds: Monmouth 28 (Albano 10), Notre Dame 35 (Manner 9, Gotsch 7). Assists: Monmouth 14 (Franklin 5), Notre Dame 16 (White 7). Total Fouls: Monmouth 21, Notre Dame 14. Fouled out: Aidietis (M), Barksdale (M).