Rob Kurz scored 15 points to lead Notre Dame to a 76-33 rout of Monmouth on Friday night at the Paradise Jam.
Kyle McAlarney and Ryan Ayers added 13 points each for the Fighting Irish (2-0) in a balanced attack against the Hawks (0-3).
The Irish took an early 17-4 lead, hitting their first five 3-pointers. They cooled off slightly to finish 10-for-23 from behind the arc.
With less than five minutes to play in the first half, the Hawks cut the deficit to 25-22 on a 3-point shot by Whitney Coleman that capped an 8-3 run. But the Irish quickly pulled away.
The Hawks had only eight points in the second half and were held scoreless for the final 10:30 of the game. They shot 13 percent from the floor after halftime, 27 percent for the game.
On the defensive end, 5-foot-11 guard Tory Jackson made two dramatic plays as the Irish closed out the first half, breaking up a two-on-one fast break and blocking a layup attempt. He finished with three steals and four assists.
Jhamar Youngblood led the Hawks with eight points and had a game-high four steals. Coleman added seven points and Alex Nunner had six.
The Irish, who outrebounded the Hawks 46-18, will face Baylor on Sunday in the second round of the tournament.
ESPN - Monmouth vs. Notre Dame Recap, November 16, 2007
