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Elijah Burns knows her roles in the Notre Dame basketball team. Being the best marker has not been one of them.
"I will do everything my team needs me: bounce, talk, defend," said the senior 6-foot-8 reserve striker after scoring 15 points, a career high, to lead four players double-digit Thursday in 89-62 victory over Chicago State. "I just want to win games."
Nate Laszewski added 12 points, DJ Harvey 11 and TJ Gibbs 10 to the young Irishman (2-0) of coach Mike Brey, who lost 18 points in the first period before retiring in second half against the Cougars (0-2).
Burns provided a late-season spark and was part of a group that Brey had on the ground after the Irish lost an 18-point lead before settling for a 40-35 lead. at half-time on five points left unanswered – Burns floating, left freehand and Laszewski's 25-foot three-point bomb just five seconds from the end.
"The group that ended the first half and started the second half was defended," Brey said. "It was a little frustrating in the first period, but I said we were forming this group because they defended themselves."
Burns and Co. started the second half with a 12-0 run and eventually limited the Cougars, who shot 57% in the first half, to just 29% (7 of 24) after half-time. Meanwhile, the Irish dominated the Cougars 49-27 over the last 20 minutes.
"It's funny how Elijah stood out like a sore thumb," said Brey about Burns, who hit 5 shots on 6 and added five rebounds in 17 minutes. "It aroused us when we needed a voice and an energetic guy, and I'm thrilled for him because it's also a new territory for him."
Cameron Bowles led four Chicago State players in double digits with 15 points. Anthony Harris and Delshon Strickland each had 13 points and Christian Jacob a double-double – 12 points (10 in the first period) and 11 rebounds – for first-year coach Lance Irvin, who jumped the interview room of the post-match.
"(Burns) allowed us to start in the second half," Laszewski said after hitting 4 shots out of 8, including 3 out of 6 over the 3-point line.
Notre Dame started strong, hitting 11 of her first 16 shots (69%) to take a 28-10 lead. But the Irish were cold in the 11:29 finals, reaching only 4 of 17 (24%) while the Cougars escaped, eventually tying the match at 35-35 over Rob Shaw's runner with 1: 53 to do in the half.
Burns and Gibbs each scored three points in 2:07 of the second period as the Irish opened a 46-35 lead before Irvin took a break. Burns then completed a 3-point game after his slam dunk and Rex Pflueger put a 3-pointer on hold to put the Irishman back to order, 52-35, at 17:03.
Notre Dame's lead reached 32 points with 6:02 remaining on two free throws by freshman freshman Robby Carmody, who had eight points.
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