Jerian Grant, Pat Connaughton, Irish survive in OT

Notre Dame barely survived at the end of regulation before pulling out a 57-53 overtime victory over South Florida in the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.

With South Florida holding a 45-44 lead, the Bulls' Jawanza Poland blew a wide-open layup with 32 seconds left. Poland got the rebound and was fouled but missed the front end of the one-and-one. Making matters worse, he committed a foul at the other end, and Notre Dame's Pat Connaughton made one of two to send the game to OT tied at 45.

There were four lead changes in overtime before Eric Atkins' three-pointer with 29 seconds left put the Irish (22-10) ahead to stay at 54-50. Notre Dame faces Louisville (24-9) in Friday night's second semifinal game.

Jerian Grant and Connaughton each had 12 points for the Irish. Victor Rudd led South Florida (20-13) with 16.

USF didn't look like worldbeaters while struggling to get past Villanova in the second round, but the Bulls jumped out to a 20-8 lead against the Irish as Collins scored nine of his 11 first-half points. But as quickly as they shot to the lead, the Bulls suddenly went into a deep freeze, missing their next eight shots and committing three turnovers as Notre Dame put together an 18-0 run to take a 26-20 lead. Grant scored seven of his 10 first-half points in that run.

Finally, Collins hit a foul-line jumper with 3:30 left in the half to end the Bulls' scoreless streak at 9 minutes and 12 seconds. By halftime, the Irish lead was down to 28-26.

When 6-10 Augustus Gilchrist wandered out to the top of the arc to hit a three-pointer at the 15:40 mark in the second half, it put the Bulls back in front at 31-30.

They extended their lead to 38-33 on a three-pointer by Victor Rudd, but the Irish responded with three straight treys, two by Alex Dragicevich, and then the go-ahead basket by Connaughton at 6:50 for a 42-41 lead. But Notre Dame couldn't score for the next 6:11 as the game headed for its overtime finish.