Notre Dame aims to extend its win streak and stay unbeaten at home when it hosts Purdue Fort Wayne on Sunday afternoon in South Bend, Ind.
The Fighting Irish (9-3) have won four in a row and are 7-0 at home this season after beating Evansville, 82-58, on Dec. 13 behind a career-high 26 points from junior Braeden Shrewsberry.
The Mastodons (7-6) enter the contest on a three-game winning streak after edging Detroit Mercy, 81-77, last Sunday behind 22 points from Mikale Stevenson.
Even without leading scorer Markus Burton, who underwent ankle surgery on Dec. 10 and has no timetable set for his return, Notre Dame is confident others are poised to step up.
Aside from Shrewsberry and his 12.1 points per game, freshman Jalen Haralson is the only other active player with a double-digit scoring average at 14.1 points per contest. He has scored in double figures in 10 consecutive games, including 10 against Evansville.
Sir Mohammed is someone the Fighting Irish will lean on as well after he scored a career-best 21 against Evansville. The sophomore wing had scored in double figures just twice in his first 34 career games.
“It’s all hands on deck with our guys,” said head coach Micah Shrewsberry. “People’s roles don’t really shift. The time they play might shift, but you still need to be a star in what you do. That’s what we’re looking for for our group.”
The Mastodons’ Corey Hadnot II has been a tough player to slow down, scoring more than 30 points twice this season while averaging a Horizon League-best 20.2 points per outing. He also ranks among the nation’s top 25 with his 2.4 steals per game.
DeAndre Craig Jr. (15.5 ppg) and Stevenson (14.3 ppg) also have been key contributors for an offense that has shown it can take care of the basketball. The Mastodons turned the ball over only twice in 68 possessions during their win over Detroit Mercy.
“To be able to understand our flow and operate within our offense, with our pace and space, and only turn the ball over two times, that’s elite,” head coach Jon Coffman said. “That is going to position ourselves to win a lot of games.”
–Field Level Media
