GAME NOTES: The Notre Dame Fighting Irish put their 30-game home winning streak on the line tonight, as they host the Cincinnati Bearcats in Big East play at the Joyce Center. The Irish enter the game on a real low note, as they were trounced at nationally-ranked Marquette, 92-66, on Saturday. The loss brought the team's lengthy 10-game winning streak to close, as it fell to 12-3 overall and 2-1 in conference play. On a positive note, Notre Dame now returns back to the Joyce Center, where it has won 30 straight games, including all 10 this season. As for Cincinnati, it has been one of the biggest surprises in the Big East thus far, winning three of its four league outings. Most recently, the team upset nationally-ranked Villanova, 69-66, on Saturday for its second straight win and fourth in five games. With the triumph, the Bearcats pulled to an even 8-8 overall and in the process eclipsed their league win total from last season, when they finished just 2-14. In terms of the all-time series, Notre Dame owns a 4-1 edge over Cincinnati and it has won the last three meetings.

Cincinnati knocked down 45.8 percent of its attempts from the floor and 8- of-19 from long distance, as it upended Villanova this past weekend. The team also won the battle on the boards, 38-28, although it nearly let the game slip away by converting only 17-of-30 free-throw attempts. Deonta Vaughn headed the charge with 25 points and two steals, while John Williamson notched a double- double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. For the season, Vaughn is the only player for the Bearcats who is averaging double figures, netting 17.3 ppg on the strength of 41.7 percent shooting from three-point range. As a team, Cincinnati is producing 65.4 pg behind a modest 41.9 percent shooting from the field.

Notre Dame turned the ball over 24 times and that led to 29 points for Marquette in a lopsided loss over the weekend. The Irish were also outdone from behind the arc, where they went just 4-of-19 compared to a 12-of-24 effort by Marquette. Luke Harangody guided the team in defeat with a double-double of 29 points and 14 rebounds, while Rob Kurz had 11 points and six boards. For the season, Harangody leads the team in both scoring and rebound with his near double-double average of 18.9 ppg and 9.8 rpg. Kyle McAlarney is next in order with 14.4 ppg and he is dangerous from long distance, making good on 44.7 percent of his attempts. Kurz rounds out the double-figure scorers with 13.5 ppg and he is also ripping down a solid 8.1 rpg. Overall, Notre Dame is scoring a hardy 78.7 ppg on an efficient 41.0 percent shooting from three- point range and it is also outrebounding its foes by 10.2 rpg.

Notre Dame has been unbeatable at home and with a big effort from three-point land and on the boards, it should be able to get past an up and coming Cincinnati club tonight.