Notre Dame wins coach Mike Brey’s home finale, upsets Pitt

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Marcus Hammond andCormac Ryan each scored 20 points as Notre Dame won longtime coachMike Brey’s final home game with an 88-81 victory over No. 25Pittsburgh on Wednesday night.

Nate Laszewski and Trey Wertz each added 14 points as theFighting Irish (11-19, 3-16 Atlantic Coast Conference) snapped aseven-game losing streak.

Brey, who is stepping down at season’s end and received warmovations from the crowd before and after the game, improved to315-76 at Purcell Pavilion over 23 years as Notre Dame coach.

“What an unbelievable night,” Brey said over the public address.“We defended pretty much the whole game. I thought we were gooddefensively. … It was neat for our seniors to finish likethat.”

Jamarius Burton, Nelly Cummings and Nike Sibande all scored 19points, and Blake Hinson added 15 points and 13 rebounds, for thePanthers (21-9, 14-5), who entered with wins in eight of their lastnine games. Pitt was playing its first game since moving into theAP Top 25 for the first time in seven years.

“First and foremost, congrats to Notre Dame,” Panther coach JeffCapel said. “They were terrific. I knew they would come out and bereally inspired and emotional (with five grad players in theirstarting lineup), and obviously being the last game here for CoachBrey.”

Pitt, the conference leader going in, had a chance to clinch atleast a tie for its first ACC title across its 10 years in theleague, but struggled with its shooting.

The Panthers finished 7 of 22 on 3-pointers and 20 of 36 at theline, while the Irish closed 10 of 27 and 26 of 31. “There’s a lotof things we didn’t do well,” Capel said, “but I love the fightthat we had.”

Notre Dame led by a high of 61-41 at 11:49 remaining, afterscoring the final 11 points of the first half for a 42-28 advantageat the break. Late-rallying Pitt got no closer than 84-79 at 38seconds remaining.

BIG PICTURE

Pittsburgh: While the Panthers appear safely into the NCAATournament field, their 2-2 mark over their last four games whilefacing entirely sub-.500 ACC teams won’t help their seeding. Theycan still trend back up with a win at Miami or an extended leaguetourney run.

Notre Dame: While the win was sweet for the Irish, barring amiracle title in next week’s ACC Tournament and thus the league’sautomatic NCAA Tourney bid, they’ll be turning their full attentiontoward hiring Brey’s successor.

BREY-KING AWAY

Brey had declared Tuesday that he would be heading over to theLinebacker, an iconic bar just off the Notre Dame campus,immediately after Wednesday’s game and that all others were welcomeas well. “I gotta get over to the Linebacker,” Brey said to starthis postgame radio interview over the PA while doubling down on hisTuesday intentions. True to his word the coach went to the bar.Brey said he had never been in the bar in all his 23 years at NotreDame and thought this would be a fitting time. The PA interviewlasted just three minutes and he did not conduct a postgame pressconference.

CAPEL CIRCLES BACK

Capel was asked if this was an emotional night for him as well.The first two years of his playing career at Duke, beginning in1993, were also the final two years of Brey’s time as an assistantwith the Blue Devils. Brey has described Capel as “like a son.”“Certainly I love Coach Brey, Capel said. “He’s been a big part ofmy life since I was about 17 years old.” Added Capel, “We wereexcited about the opportunity to play them in Coach Brey’s finalhome game here (given) how much he’s put into this program.”

UP NEXT

Pittsburgh: At least a share of the ACC regular-season titlegoes to the winner when the Panthers visit No. 16 Miami (23-6,14-5) in Saturday night’s league finale. No. 13 Virginia (22-6,14-5) remains in the mix as well and hosts last-place Louisville(4-26, 2-17) Saturday.

Notre Dame: The Irish conclude their regular season Saturday atClemson (21-9, 13-6), where the Tigers may need a win to assure atop-four finish in the ACC and a double bye in next week’s leaguetourney.