Starting Five:

PG - 6’3” Jr. John Belardi
SG - 6’3” Sph. Jalen Cox
SF - 6’7” Jr. Jack Kresich
PF - 6’7” Jr. Remington Rofer
C - 6’7” Sr. Colby Brooks

Quarter 1

The Cubs come out to a rough start in the game, falling down by five early after conceding a few threes. When the score read 8-3, the Cubs finally kick into gear and respond with a 6-0 run to regain the lead. At 4:22, the Knights finally end the run with a transition layup,but Cox responds with an immediate triple. A pair of Cub turnovers allow the Knights to regain the momentum, easily taking the lead off a 6-0 run. Brooks is able to end the run with a transition layup after a monster block from Cox. Nevertheless, Coach Adams decides he needs a timeout to help his team regroup. The Knights come out of the intermission firing, hitting two threes before Belardi creates two consecutive layups. Trailing 18-23, Rofer buries two free throws, leaving 17 seconds in the opening quarter. In the remaining time, the Knights manage to put in a layup to extend their lead to 5.

Score 20-25

Quarter 2

The second quarter opens with sloppy basketball from both sides: both teams turn the ball over multiple times before a Knights triple ends the dry run. Roquemore and Suceveanu immediately respond with consecutive buckets, cutting the lead down to four. A turnover allows the Knights to get an easy transition layup, but Suceveanu again shows off the post moves for two. Kresich makes a runner in the lane to cut the lead to two, but the Cubs play lazy defense and give up a three-point play as a result. The team struggles mightily on the glass, allowing the Knights to score repeated second-chance points. Belardi ends the run with a made free throw, leaving the score at 32-38. The Knights get another quick transition score. Scoring through a press break, Kresich gets a wide open layup. The dominance on the glass and in transition allows the Knights to run up the score, ballooning the lead to 11. At 1:37, Coach Adams needs a timeout to galvanize a comeback. After the break, Suceveanu is able to score a putback layup, but the Knights are able to hit a runner right after. The Knights proceed to hit a corner three on the following possession, extending their lead to 14. Belardi is able to hit a solitary free throw to end the quarter.

Score 39-52

Quarter 3

The starters return for the start of the second half, allowing the Knights to force a turnover immediately. Both teams trade layups before the Knights hit consecutive threes. Rofer hits a layup in response before the Knights steal the ball for free throws. Sloppy transition play ends in a Belardi layup before Rofer forces a charge. Rofer scores on the other end before a steal ends in a Roquemore score. The Knights are called for a travel, accentuating the small 4-point run for the Cubs. Rough play prevents points before Roquemore and Rofer score for another 4-point run. A three and transition layup end the run, returning the lead to 13. An and-one layup and transition score exacerbate the Cubs’ problems, leaving the score at 53-71 with 42 seconds left in the third. Two made free throws put the Knights up 20 with 11 seconds left to play. 

Score 53-73

Quarter 4

The final quarter opens with Rofer earning free throws, allowing him to pour in two more points for the Cubs. The team follows it up with two more layups, one from Dylan and one from Brooks to cut the lead to 16. Notre Dame calls timeout to end the opening run from the Cubs. Dylan scores a transition layup, followed by one from Brooks. The lead is just nine thanks to a free throw from Suceveanu. A Knight triple changes that momentum, bringing the lead back to 12. After a few possessions, the Knights decide they need a timeout. Dylan comes up with another steal after the timeout, allowing for a Belardi layup. A steal allows Brooks to break out for a dunk, cutting the lead to 8. The Knights hit a triple to keep the game out of reach, the clock reading 2:45. Belardi’s offensive rebound leads to a three-point play, reducing the lead to 8. The Knights again score a transition layup after a controversial push-off call is missed. Needing a timeout, the Knights call for a break at 2:04. Belardi scores a quick layup right out of the break, and the Knights use their final timeout to prevent a five-second inbound call. The scoreboard reads 73-81 when play resumes at 1:32. The Cubs steal the ball right away for a Brooks layup before calling a timeout that prevents a jump ball and retains possession for the Cubs. Trailing 6 with 1:10 to play, the Cubs look to finish the comeback with neither team having any timeouts left. Rofer is fouled with 58 seconds left, hitting two to take the lead down to four. The Cubs give up a foul, though, and the lead goes back to 6. A missed shot leads to Notre Dame free throws, and the lead is 8 with 20 seconds to play. Belardi hits a layup at 14 seconds to play, cutting the lead to 6. The Cubs force a travel within a second a get the ball back with 13 seconds. However, the team misses the three they produce and the game ends.

Score 79-86