COL BKB: Notre Dame 69, Rutgers 66

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SOUTH BEND, Ind., Jan. 19 (UPI) -- Jack Cooley's double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds gave No. 20 Notre Dame the push it needed to hold off Rutgers 69-66 Saturday.

The Fighting Irish (15-3, 3-2 Big East) led the entire second half but had to hang on as Rutgers made a late charge.

The Scarlett Knights sliced Notre Dame's advantage to just one point at 67-66 when Eli Carter sank a layup with 8 seconds remaining, and then had a prime chance to take the lead when Mike Poole stole the ball from Notre Dame's Eric Atkins.

Carter, however, was whistled for an offensive foul on the play, and Atkins sank two free throws to open a three-point Notre Dame advantage with less than 2 seconds to go.

Rutgers' Myles Mack missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer and the Irish broke a two-game losing streak.

The Scarlett Knights (12-5, 3-3) were led by Carter with 20 points.