CINCINNATI (AP)—Yancy Gates got his own miss and put it back in with 2.4 seconds to go Saturday, giving Cincinnati a 60-58 victory over Notre Dame in a game where football was never far from mind.
There were 11 lead changes and six ties in the second half, the final one when Ben Hansbrough hit a pull-up jumper that made it 58-all with 22.6 seconds to go. After a timeout, Cincinnati got the ball to Deonta Vaughn, who drove and passed to Gates for the deciding shot.
It was the first time Cincinnati (12-6, 3-3 Big East) played Notre Dame since Brian Kelly left to become the Irish football coach. Cincinnati used the occasion to honor its Sugar Bowl team, which sat in the stands and was introduced on court at halftime. One student held up a sign that said: “Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor’s Coach.”
Notre Dame (14-4, 3-2) was led by Tim Abromaitis’ 16 points. Luke Harangody had 14 points on 5-of-20 shooting.
