Notre Dame shoots its way to the Elite Eight, eliminates Wichita State

Zach Auguste

Notre Dame became the first team to punch its ticket into the Elite Eight on Thursday in dominant fashion.

The third-seeded Irish trailed for only 12 seconds in an 81-70 victory over Wichita State (30-5) in Cleveland. It's the third time in school history Notre Dame (32-5) has made it to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.

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Notre Dame shot 55.6 percent (30-for-54) from the field and had four starters in double figures, led by Demetrius Jackson's 20 points (7-of-10 field goals), four rebounds and three assists.

Naismith Trophy finalist Jerian Grant had 11 assists for the Irish, most by any player in the NCAA Tournament this season. He also became the first Notre Dame player with double-digit assists in a tournament game.

The Irish started off the game on fire, hitting seven of their first eight shots to take a 20-7 lead before the Shockers came storming back. Wichita State answered with a 15-5 run, allowing Notre Dame to make just five of its last 22 shots in the half.

Wichita State point guard Fred VanVleet scored the last eight points of the half and the first two points of the second half to bring the Shockers within one at 33-32. The Shockers took their only lead of the night with 16:41 remaining, but it would last just 12 seconds. Notre Dame quickly answered with three 3-pointers in four possessions during a 17-6 run that put the Irish up 10 with 12:38 remaining.

"We guarded to get out of here, and then we got into one of those great offensive rhythms," Notre Dame head coach Mike Bray told CBS after the game. "We got just as good a shot as anybody."

VanVleet led the Shockers in a losing effort, recording 25 points, six rebounds, and three assists.

Zach Auguste was dominant in the paint for the Irish, knocking down all six of his field goals including this emphatic slam on an alley-oop pass from Demetrius Jackson.

The Irish advance to face the winner between top-ranked Kentucky and West Virginia.

 

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