He had 33 points and nine rebounds in Notre Dame’s 70-54 win over Division-II Lewis in Sunday’s exhibition game, the first one of the season and the first in the new Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center.

 

Harangody picked up right where he left off last season, when he averaged 23 points and 11.8 rebounds, making 15-of-25 field goals.

 

Sunday’s game was the first time senior guard Ben Hansbrough played for the Irish — the Mississippi State transfer sat out last season. His older brother Tyler, who won a championship with North Carolina last season and now plays for the Pacers, watched from the stands. Hansbrough scored 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting and had seven rebounds.

 

“I knew he’d be playing a little too fast tonight after sitting out for a year,” coach Mike Brey told und.com about Hansbrough. “When we were struggling, he made some drives and got to the foul line and got us off the hook a few times. I love his competiveness and I think he’s going to score the ball for us because he can do it in so many different ways.”

 

Forward Tyrone Nash, guard Tory Jackson and guard Jonathan Peoples rounded out the Irish starting lineup.

 

“It’s small steps with this group, and as we try to analyze things, we’ll start to figure this team out,” Brey told the athletic Web site after the game.

 

The Irish took a 21-12 lead with 8:18 remaining in the first half and kept building on it. Peoples’ 3-pointer made the lead 30-16 with 5:05 remaining. Peoples finished with eight points.

 

Lewis put together a 9-2 run to end the half, however, and the Irish led 32-25 at halftime.

Lewis took a 41-40 lead with 14:45 left in the game on Dennis Thomas Jr.’s layup. Lewis held the lead until Hansbrough hit two free throws to tie the game at 44 and Harangody hit a jumper to take a two-point lead with 12:42 left.

 

Notre Dame pulled away, and two free throws from Harangody gave Notre Dame a six-point lead with 7:06 remaining. Lewis would get no closer than six the rest of the way.

The Irish allowed three 3-pointers in each half to Lewis, which finished the game shooting 31.6 percent from 3-point range. Guard Chris McClellan made 4-of-9 from behind the arc and led the team with 18 points. 

 

Lewis only reached the foul line four times and made just two free throws.

 

Notre Dame plays its final exhibition game against Quincy Friday at the Joyce Center at 7:30 p.m. before opening regular-season play on Nov. 14 at home against North Florida.