Irish Take Down Bearcats

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Tyrone Nash and Ben Hansbrough led five scorers in double figures with 13 points each and injured senior Carleton Scott made a surprise return for No. 16 Notre Dame in a 66-58 victory over No. 25 Cincinnati on Wednesday night.

Reserve Sean Kilpatrick scored 16 points, including seven straight with 7 minutes, to play for the Bearcats (16-3, 3-3 Big East). Cincinnati made three 3-pointers late and used an 8-0 run to close the deficit to five points with 1:12 to go.

But Notre Dame (15-4, 4-3) went 7 for 8 from the free throw line the rest of the way.

Out since injuring his hamstring in a Jan. 1 loss at Syracuse, Scott hit both shots he attempted, two 3-pointers.

Hansbrough, who was 1 for 8 from the field, finished 11 for 12 from the free throw line. Tim Abromaitis added 12 points for the Irish.

Yancy Gates had 13 points for Cincinnati.