The Fighting Irish kicked off their non‑conference slate with a decisive 27‑point victory over Mercyhurst.
Key points
- Notre Dame opened its home schedule with a dominant 83‑56 win over Mercyhurst.
- The victory extended Notre Dame’s season‑opener record to 111‑11 and kept the program eight wins shy of 2,000 all‑time wins.
- Projected starters and statistical advantages in scoring, rebounding and turnovers helped the Irish control the game.
On November 5, 2026, Notre Dame hosted Mercyhurst at Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, Indiana, with the ACC Network Extra broadcasting the contest. The Irish prevailed 83‑56, a 27‑point margin that set the tone for their non‑conference schedule.
According to the game thread, this was the first meeting between the two programs. Notre Dame entered the game ranked No. 73 by KenPom and continued its impressive streak of 111‑11 in season‑opener games. The Irish also avoided a true road game in their non‑conference slate, a scheduling quirk noted by the source.
Game Overview
Projected starters listed by Irish Sports Daily included Braeden Smith (16.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists), Braeden Shrewsberry (15.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists), Ethan Roberts (11.0 points, 2.0 rebounds), Brady Koehler (16.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.0 assist) and Logan Duncomb (9.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists) for Notre Dame. Mercyhurst’s projected lineup featured Geoff Sprouse (2.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists), Jake Lemelman (16.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists) and others with limited scoring expectations.
Team statistics showed Notre Dame averaging 74.0 points per game on offense while allowing 72.0 points defensively, compared with Mercyhurst’s 43.0 offensive and 78.0 defensive averages. Notre Dame’s field‑goal percentage stood at 35.4 % versus Mercyhurst’s 29.3 %, and the Irish outrebounded opponents 37‑26 while committing fewer turnovers (11 to 17).
Projected Starters and Key Stats
The thread also highlighted that the Fighting Irish are eight wins away from reaching the 2,000‑win milestone in program history, underscoring the significance of a strong start to the season.
Reader questions
What was the final score of the Notre Dame vs. Mercyhurst game?
Notre Dame defeated Mercyhurst 83‑56.
When and where was the game played?
The game took place on November 5, 2026, at Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, Indiana.
How does this result affect Notre Dame’s season‑opener record?
The win maintains Notre Dame’s season‑opener record at 111 wins and 11 losses.
Source: irishsportsdaily.com
