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Notre Dame aims to stay perfect at home

Jan 21, 2007 - 2:26 PM South Florida (10-9) at No. 20 Notre Dame (15-3) 1:00 pm EST

SOUTH BEND, Indiana (Ticker) -- Notre Dame figures to get well at home.

The 20th-ranked Fighting Irish hope to bounce back from a disappointing loss and remain undefeated at home Sunday when they host South Florida in a Big East Conference tilt.

Off to its best start since the 2002-03 campaign, Notre Dame (15-3, 3-2 Big East) has won 13 straight home games this season and 15 in a row overall at the Joyce Center.

But the Fighting Irish have lost both of their true road contests, including Wednesday's 102-87 loss at Villanova.

Russell Carter scored 26 points to pace Notre Dame, which struggled defensively in yielding 100 points in regulation for the first time since a 101-70 loss to Connecticut on January 12, 1999.

Carter and the Fighting Irish aim to improve defensively against a South Florida (10-9, 1-4) which has dropped eight of its last 11 contests, including Wednesday's 68-59 loss to West Virginia.