Grant Scores 17, No. 10 Irish Beat Boston College
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Jerian Grant and Steve Vasturia scored 17 points apiece, and No. 10 Notre Dame held off Boston College for a 71-63 victory on Wednesday night.
Zach Auguste added 16 points for the Fighting Irish (21-3, 9-2 Atlantic Coast Conference), who bounced back from a disappointing loss to Pittsburgh on Saturday. Pat Connaughton finished with 11.
Oliver Hanlan, who led Boston College with 28 points, hit four consecutive 3-pointers to cut Notre Dame's lead to 67-61 with 1:47 left. But the Eagles' rally fizzled from there.
Boston College (9-12, 1-8) has dropped eight of its last nine games against Notre Dame. Aaron Brown added 13 points for the Eagles.
The Irish got off to a fast start while the Eagles struggled to score. Auguste converted a layup to lift Notre Dame to a 34-9 lead.
After giving up 76 points against the Panthers on Saturday, the third-highest total for a Notre Dame opponent this season, the Irish came out focused on defense and forced seven turnovers in the opening 10 minutes. Boston College was coming off a 16-point loss to Clemson and didn't look any better early against the Irish.
Boston College closed to 41-25 at the break on 3-pointers from Hanlan and Dimitri Batten, who connected from just inside midcourt at the buzzer.
TIP-INS
Boston College: The Eagles dropped to 0-8 when they trail at halftime. ... Boston College dropped to 1-10 when outshot by its opponent. Notre Dame shot 50 percent to become the fourth team this season to shoot 50 percent or better against the Eagles.
Notre Dame: The Irish have won eight straight at home against Boston College. ... Notre Dame plays three games in six days and then is off for a week. ... The Irish are off to their best start since opening the 1978-79 season 22-3.
UP NEXT
Boston College hosts No. 12 North Carolina on Saturday.
Notre Dame is at No. 4 Duke on Saturday.
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