SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Cormac Ryan scored 21 points, including five free throws down the stretch, and Notre Dame held off Boston University 81-75 on Wednesday night.
Ryan continued his hot 3-point shooting, making all four of his attempts. In his last three games, Ryan is 14 of 19 from the arc. Trey Wertz added three more treys and had 16 points with JJ Starling adding 15 for Notre Dame (7-1), which shot 49% and was even better from 3-point range at 9 of 17 for 53%.
Ethan Brittain-Watts, averaging seven points per game, made 5 of 10 3-point tries and scored a career-high 19 points to lead the Terriers (6-4). Walter Whyte and Nevin Zink added 13 points each for a Boston University team playing its sixth game in a seven-game road trip. The Terriers made 12 of 29 from the arc and shot 44% overall.
The Fighting Irish looked to have the game well in hand, leading by as many as 16 in the second half and still up by double figures with five minutes to go. But the Terriers put together an 8-0 run capped by a Caelan Jones 3-pointer to close within six by the final media timeout.
The Terriers cut the margin to five but got no closer with the Fighting Irish making 9 of 12 free throws over the final three minutes. Notre Dame didn't have a field goal over the final 5:41.
Brittain-Watts opened the second half hitting consecutive 3-pointers and Whyte added another in a 11-2 run to begin the period and give BU a brief lead.
Ryan answered with a 3-pointer and Wertz added consecutive 3s in a 16-2 run to put the Fighting Irish up 54-42. The lead stayed in double figures until the Terriers made their late run.
Notre Dame led 36-29 at halftime behind 11 points from Ryan.
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