It was an exciting and long day as four 2012 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tournament second-round games took place at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. on Friday.#8 Creighton Bluejays vs #9 Alabama Crimson Tide...
In-Game notes:
Wrapping up second-round action in Greenboro, N.C., the #7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish meet up with the #10 Xavier Musketeers in what promises to be another closely-contested ame in this year's Tournament
1st half:
- Xavier starts the game off with a dunk from Kenny Frease and is soon followed up by a three-pointer from TU Holloway - Musketeers ahead 5-0 with just over 18 minutes to play
- Xavier doesn't slow down and pushes the lead to 7-0 as Notre Dame continues to struggle in its shooting and turning the ball over
- The Irish finally get on the boars with a three-pointer from Eric Atkins - 7-3 Xavier with 16:35 to play
- Notre Dame connects on another three-point shot and the lead is only one
- The Irish eventually tie it at 8-8 before Exvier hits another run and outscore the Irish 8-1 and take the lead 16-9 with 13:06 to go
- Notre Dame goes on a seven-point run of its own and ties the score over a period three minutes - the score is tied with at the halfway point
- Entering the latter part of the half both teams are trading baskets - eventually both teams are tied 29-29 with 2:26 to play
- Notre Dame takes advantage of its opportunities as Cooley and Alex Dragicevich score layups while Xavier manages another point off a FT
Notes of interest at the half:
Notre Dame: shooting 14-27 (51.9%) - leading scorer - Jack Cooley - nine points
Xavier: shooting 11-24 (45.8%) - leading scorer - Kenny Frease - 10 points
2nd half:
- Xavier starts the half off with a quick basket
- Cooley goes the FT line and drops both - Notre Dame leads 35-33
- The Irish hits a three and extends the lead further
- Notre Dame on an 7-0 run over the past 3:44 - now leads 40-33 with 15:37 to go
- The Fighting Irish build on their run as it now extends to 10-2 over the past 5:21 - lead is now 43-35 with 13:36 to play
- Cooley scores an easy layup underneath while Xavier goes to the line - 45-38 with 12:44 to play
- Both teams starting to open up their offenses as they trade three-point shots - first from the Irish' Eric Atkins and matched by Xavier's Mark Lyons
- Tu Holloway hits a three-pointer to get Xavier closer
- Xavier takes advantage of Irish turnovers and score - Irish now leading 51-49 with 7:24 to play
- Holloway hits a baseline jumper and ties the score s the he Irish's Scott Martin scores easily under the basket on the layup - hits another on fthe FT - Irish lead 54-51
- Injury note: Xavier's Andre Walker being evaluated by doctors - possible vision issues
- Notre Dame leading 57-55 with five minutes to play
- Big foul call on Xavier that coach Chris Mack is not happy about
- AS the Musketeers press, draw the fouls and Dezmine Wells scores both FT shots - Xavier traling by one
- Big steal by Holloway who drives and lays it up and in - Xavier leading 59-58 with 2:30 to go
- Notre Dame with ball control and score a layup from Cooley
- Cooley denises a shot from Robinson, but Holloway is fouled on his attempt - game now tied 60-60
- With a minute to play Eric Atkins hits a three-point shot to put the Irish ahead 63-60 with 50.3 seconds remaining
- Xavier scores and now trails by one and the Irish throw it away on a bad paass
- Xavier with the chance to take the lead and they do with a baby jumper from Holloway - kissing the glass and in - Xavier leads 64-63 with 12.8 seconds to play
- Irish with the ball and will work to score
- They take the shot as Jerian Grant puts it up and Xavier rebounds it - Dezmine Wells at the FT line adds another point to the lead - Xavier up 65-63
- Atkins is fouled and will go to the line to tie it - 2.8 seconds left - he makes the first and the Notre Dame is called for a lane violation which cancels the second shot - Xavier ball
- Musketeers inbounding and Irish looking to foul which they do but also take a technical foul - lead extends to three and one more FT finishes it
