Notre Dame produced a dominant 99-59 home victory over South Carolina State on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, overwhelming the Bulldogs with sharp ball movement, transition offense, and a deep bench. The Fighting Irish led from the opening minutes and never allowed South Carolina State to settle into the game.

Game overview

Notre Dame came out firing, opening with a 17-4 run and forcing South Carolina State into an early timeout. The Irish shared the ball effectively, generated open three-point looks, and attacked the offensive glass. By halftime, Notre Dame had built a commanding 51-28 lead and had already received scoring contributions from multiple reserves.

The second half was more of the same. Notre Dame’s defensive pressure created easy transition baskets, and the Irish bench continued to extend the lead. South Carolina State competed hard but could not match Notre Dame’s depth or shooting efficiency.

Key moments

The game’s defining stretch came late in the first half. Leading 30-18, Notre Dame went on a 20-2 run over a six-minute span, turning a competitive game into a rout. The burst included three consecutive three-pointers, a steal-and-layup, and a put-back dunk that brought the home crowd to its feet.

South Carolina State briefly stabilized early in the second half, but Notre Dame answered with another 12-2 run to push the lead past 30 points. From there, the Irish emptied the bench and cruised to the 40-point win.

Tactical story

Notre Dame’s offense was built on quick ball movement and unselfish play. The Irish consistently found the open man against South Carolina State’s zone and man-to-man defenses, finishing with a high number of assisted baskets. Their transition attack was especially effective, turning defensive rebounds and steals into layups before the Bulldogs could set their defense.

Defensively, Notre Dame contested jump shots and limited South Carolina State’s second-chance opportunities. The Bulldogs struggled to generate clean looks in the half court and were forced into several contested three-point attempts late in the shot clock.

Standout performers

• Notre Dame’s perimeter players: Shot the ball efficiently and created open looks with patient ball movement.
• Irish bench: Provided a major spark, extending the lead and maintaining intensity on both ends.
• South Carolina State’s guards: Kept competing and attacked the basket, but faced constant pressure from Notre Dame’s defense.

What it means

For Notre Dame, the 99-59 win is a confidence-building performance that showcased the team’s depth and offensive potential. The Irish will look to carry that ball movement and defensive intensity into the next phase of non-conference play. South Carolina State will need to regroup quickly after a difficult road test, particularly on the defensive end.