Notre Dame will go for back-to-back wins for the first time this month when it hosts Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in a nonconference matchup Wednesday afternoon in South Bend, Ind.
The Fighting Irish (5-5) are coming off Monday’s 85-52 win at home over Western Michigan. That snapped a cold spell in which Notre Dame had dropped four out of five.
“I thought we did a great job running our half-court stuff, getting into our offense,” Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey said.
The next test for Brey’s squad will come against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (10-2), which also is looking for back-to-back wins after holding off Lamar for a 57-53 win Saturday.
The Islanders have not shied from going on the road to play bigger schools during their nonconference slate. They lost 86-65 at Texas A&M on Nov. 14, but they were more competitive Dec. 14 at Minnesota in a 79-71 loss.
Besides those contests, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is a perfect 10-0, already doubling its win total from last season.
Islanders head coach Steve Lutz has emphasized the importance of playing hard on defense in his first season at the helm.
“As long as we’ll continue to give the effort and the fight on the defensive end, we’re going to put ourselves in position to be in the game at the end of the game,” Lutz said. “We’re going to shoot the basketball better. We’re going to have nights where we don’t score it, and (Saturday) was one of those days.”
Notre Dame guard Dane Goodwin will take the court for the first time since becoming the 66th player in school history to reach 1,000 career points. Goodwin has scored in double figures in all 10 games this season.
“He’s been a rock for us from Day One,” Brey said.
After Wednesday’s game, Notre Dame will have nearly a week off before visiting Pitt in ACC action on Dec. 28.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is not scheduled to play again until Dec. 31, when it is set to host Sul Ross State.
–Field Level Media
