Tuesday, March 21, 2000XAVIER NOTEBOOK
Williams plays final college game
BY MICHAEL PERRY
The Cincinnati EnquirerSOUTH BEND, Ind. — Darnell Williams didn't know until he got to the Joyce Center on Monday night that he would be able to play against Notre Dame.
His knee loosened up just enough to allow him to play.
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Xavier's David West and Notre Dame's David Graves battle for position during their NIT second-round game Monday.
(AP photo)
| ZOOM |“And, I started thinking this could be the last one, so I had to try and do something,” he said.
Williams, who had not practiced leading up to the NIT second-round game because of a sprained right knee, did not start but entered with 13:39 left in the first half.
Four seconds later, the 6-foot-5 senior drilled a 3-pointer from the right side to give Xavier a 14-13 lead.
Williams played 19 minutes, wincing in pain several times as he ran up and down the court. He finished with nine points on 3-of-9 shooting in the 76-64 loss.
He ends his career as XU's No.11 all-time leading scorer with 1,572 career points.
Cincy connection
Notre Dame freshman Mike Monserez, a 6-foot-6 guard from Moeller High School, has appeared in all 34 Notre Dame games. He came into Monday night averaging 2.3 points and 9.4 minutes.
“Mike is one of the smartest players I've coached,” ND coach Matt Doherty said. “He can remember where all five guys are supposed to be on the court. He does a lot of the little things very well, things that aren't sexy, if you will.”
Monserez had no points, missing his only field-goal attempt, one rebound and two assists in seven minutes against XU.
Home-court edge
Home teams were 13-3 in the first round of the NIT.
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