Pass, pass, pass, pass. Then, pass again before finding and making a wide-open shot. No. 17 Notre Dame got everyone involved in extending its notable winning streak.
Jerian Grant scored 19 points and the Fighting Irish patiently worked for open shots that set up a 66-60 victory Monday night at No. 21 Cincinnati, their 12th straight win.
Notre Dame (14-1 overall, 2-0 Big East) is on its best winning streak since it also won 12 in a row in 2006-07.
This time, coach Mike Brey has an experienced roster that loves to share. Notre Dame is among the national leaders with 19 assists per game.
“That’s been our program,” Brey said. “There’s a culture of passing the ball here. We recruit basketball IQ guys, and I think there’s a lot of trust that we’re going to keep moving that thing.”
Cincinnati (13-3, 1-2) wore new, all-black uniforms for a home game that took on extra significance. The Bearcats opened the season 12-0, then lost two of their last three games, falling to New Mexico and St. John’s.
FASTBREAKS
Christian Watford scored 16 points, Jordan Hulls added 14 and No. 5 Indiana used a big first-half run to race past Penn State, 74-51, in State College, Pa. Indiana (14-1, 2-0 Big Ten), which had the top scoring offense in the nation (87.9 points) entering the game, built a 19-point lead in the first half against the Nittany Lions (8-6, 0-2). … Unbeaten Duke and Michigan hold the top two spots in The Associated Press poll for the fourth straight week. Louisville is ranked third, overtaking unbeaten Arizona. … Baylor has regained the No. 1 spot in The Associated Press women’s basketball poll. Stanford is fifth.
McClatchy news services
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