ND cruises past Chicago State
Sophomore guard T. J. Gibbs showed once again Thursday night that he can share the scoring load for No. 13 Notre Dame, finishing with a career- high 23 points as the Irish won their third straight game to start the season, 105- 66 over visiting Chicago State.
“I’ve said from the beginning of fall practice that T. J. shoots the ball better than people think,” said senior point guard Matt Farrell, who finished with 18 points and four assists. “Some teams will key on Bonzie [ Colson] and me, and that will open up shots for others. We have confidence in them, and they have confidence in themselves.”
Coach Mike Brey, who picked up his 385th career win at Notre Dame, likes the way his New Jersey guards Farrell ( Point Pleasant Beach) and Gibbs ( Seton Hall Prep) are meshing.
“They have a great feel for each other,” Brey said. “Matt and Bonzie have gotten T. J. more confident. I thought he’d be a good shooter when we recruited him.”
Colson finished with 15 points and nine rebounds.
Loyola 66, UMKC 56
Clayton Custer finished 7- for- 11 shooting and scored 17 of his 20 points in the second half, and Aundre Jackson was 6- for- 8 from the field and finished with 18 points for the visiting Ramblers.
Marques Townes had 12 points and nine rebounds for Loyola ( 3- 0).
The Kangaroos led 26- 20 at halftime, but Loyola shot 60 percent ( 14- for- 23) from the field in the second half.
UIC 95, Delaware State 55
Dominique Matthews had 19 points, Dikembe Dixson scored 16 and the pair combined to finish 12for- 19 from the field in the Flames’ win at the UIC Pavilion.
Dixson scored seven points and Matthews hit a three- pointer in a 29- 6 run to start the game, and the Flames ( 2- 1) were never threatened in building a 53- 19 advantage by halftime.
Illinois State 69, South Carolina 65
Milik Yarbrough had 18 points, six rebounds and six assists to lead the Redbirds in the opening game of the relocated Puerto Rico TipOff in Conway, South Carolina.
Keyshawn Evans added 17 points for the Redbirds ( 1- 1), who frustrated the cold- shooting Gamecocks with their active zone defense and never trailed. South Carolina shot just 30 percent.
No. 15 Xavier 80, Wisconsin 70
Trevon Bluiett scored 25 points, including back- to- back threepointers in a decisive run over the final 1: 47, to help the visiting Musketeers pull away late in one of the Gavitt Tipoff Games.
J. P. Macura added 20 points for the Musketeers ( 3- 0). Ethan Happ led Wisconsin ( 2- 1) with 21 points and eight assists.
Michigan 61, Southern Miss 47
Jon Teske had 10 points and 11 rebounds, and the Wolverines ( 3- 0) used a 20- 1 second- half run to pull away.
Iowa 85, Grambling 74
Jack Nunge scored a careerhigh 17 points in his third collegiate game, and the Hawkeyes ( 3- 0) cruised to their third straight win.
Ohio State 82, Texas Southern 64
Keita Bates- Diop, Jae’Sean Tate and Micah Potter scored 17 points apiece to help the Buckeyes ( 3- 0).