Logan Duncomb had 20 points on 9-of-9 shooting while Braeden Smith scored 17 as host Notre Dame overcame an early double-digit deficit and then rolled to a 94-70 victory over Eastern Illinois on Monday night in South Bend, Ind.
Ethan Roberts and Brady Koehler each had 14 points, while Braeden Shrewsberry scored 12 as the Fighting Irish (3-0) shot 58.9 percent from the field, including 11-for-24 from 3-point range. Smith also recorded eight assists and five steals.
Demar Burton had 23 points and Gavin Welch scored 13 for Eastern Illinois (0-3), which shot 51.2% but committed 23 turnovers that Notre Dame turned into 28 points.
Notre Dame spotted the Panthers an 11-0 lead, highlighted by Welch going 3-for-3 from 3-point range. After the Irish called a timeout with 17:40 left in the first half, they took control of the contest.
Shrewsberry knocked down the first of his four 3-pointers and Smith followed with a layup off a steal to begin a run of 24 straight points. During that spurt, which left EIU scoreless for more than seven minutes, eight different Irish players scored at least one point.
A 3-pointer from Devin Davenport with 10:04 remaining in the first half finally ended the run.
The Irish would extend their advantage as the half went on, thanks to a pair of 3-pointers from Roberts. Smith’s late three-point play gave Notre Dame a 46-30 lead before EIU’s Tanner Vogel ended the opening half with three straight points of his own.
Notre Dame shot 61.5% from the field and scored 20 points off 12 Panthers turnovers in the first half.
The Irish made their first six field-goal attempts out of halftime, with Duncomb making three of them from within 6 feet of the hoop. Notre Dame had built a 61-42 lead at the under-16 timeout and then kept building.
EIU has allowed at least 91 points in each of its contests this season, which began with games at Iowa and Indiana.