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No. 19 Notre Dame continues three-game trip vs. So. Florida

Feb 3, 2007 - 5:46 PM No. 19 Notre Dame (18-4) at South Florida (11-11) 8:00 pm EST

TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- Notre Dame was dialed in from long distance to establish some records in its last outing.

The 19th-ranked Fighting Irish go for their fourth victory in five games to set a record for best start under coach Mike Brey on Saturday, when they visit South Florida in a Big East Conference battle.

With a 6-3 mark in the Big East, two games in back of first-place Pittsburgh, Notre Dame (18-4, 6-3 Big East) has matched its Big East victory total from last season and has two more overall wins than 2005-2006. The squad averages 83.4 points to rank among the nation's leaders.

The Fighting Irish won their third straight game with an impressive shooting performance from the arc in Tuesday's 103-91 victory at Syracuse. They made 11-of-23 3-pointers and set a record for most points scored by an opponent at the Carrier Dome.

Luke Harangody scored 21 points, freshman Tory Jackson added 19 and Russell Carter 18 for Notre Dame, which scored 61 first-half points, their highest-ever total in the opening half of a Big East game.

The Bulls have dropped six of their eight conference contests and are struggling to finish among the top 12 teams in the Big East and qualify for the conference tournament at Madison Square Garden.

South Florida is coming off Sunday's 70-68 loss to Marquette. McHugh Mattis scored 20 points and Melvin Buckley added 16 for the Bulls.

Notre Dame has won both all-time meetings against South Florida, including an 82-58 victory on January 21. Rob Kurz led the Fighting Irish with 21 points and 10 rebounds.