NEWARK, Del. (Interstat) — Chuck Bailey scored 22 points to go with five rebounds and four assists, and Delaware used a dominant early stretch to rout visiting Notre Dame (MD) 105-44 on Monday in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game at the Bob Carpenter Center. The game was a non-divisional matchup for Delaware, which improved to 1-0. An announced attendance of 1,501 watched the Blue Hens take control early and keep Notre Dame from mounting any serious response.

Delaware’s most important stretch came in the first half. Notre Dame opened the scoring when Dominik McKenney-George made a jumper off a turnover, but Bailey answered with a 3-pointer to give Delaware a 3-2 lead it never surrendered. Nehemiah Smith’s jumper brought Notre Dame within 8-6, but the Blue Hens then scored 23 consecutive points. Bailey hit two 3-pointers during that surge, and Alex Kazanecki connected on three straight 3-pointers as Delaware turned a two-point edge into a 31-6 advantage. Notre Dame went more than six minutes without scoring before Jahbreco Dacosta ended the drought with a jumper. The run established the tone for the game and forced Notre Dame to play catch-up the rest of the way.

Delaware’s lead reached 31-6 after Kazanecki’s third 3-pointer of the burst. Notre Dame answered with consecutive baskets by Dacosta, but Kazanecki hit another 3-pointer and Jayden Taylor scored on a layup and a dunk to keep Delaware in control. Steven Solano converted a dunk, Bailey added a layup, Harris-Smith made two layups and Solano dunked again before Favour Egbuna closed the first-half scoring with a layup. Delaware led by a wide margin at the break after scoring 50 points in one half and 55 in the other, while Notre Dame was held to 16 in one half and 28 in the other. Notre Dame’s attempts to trim the deficit were thwarted by Delaware’s defensive activity. Kachi Nzeh blocked three shots, Solano protected the rim and the Blue Hens’ guards pressured Notre Dame into difficult shots. Delaware’s 10 offensive rebounds gave it extra possessions and helped offset its 11 turnovers.

Delaware picked up where it left off after halftime. Bailey made a layup, Solano scored inside, and Harris-Smith and Kachi Nzeh added baskets. Notre Dame got a layup from McKenney-George and a three-point play from Junior Tutuwan, but Nick Petronio answered with 3-pointers and Bailey added a dunk. Taylor’s dunk and Harris-Smith’s layup pushed the lead further. Later, Petronio hit two more 3-pointers, Taylor threw down another dunk, and Jameel Brown connected from deep. Mason Ellison added a tip-in, a layup and a 3-pointer as Delaware’s reserves kept the margin intact. Notre Dame closed with late baskets from Dacosta, Tutuwan, Tre’Von Morgan and Jayden Corley-Pugh, but the outcome was never in doubt. The Blue Hens’ advantage ballooned as their depth wore down Notre Dame. Petronio’s shooting, Taylor’s finishes at the rim and Solano’s work on the glass kept Delaware in control. Notre Dame got scoring from Tutuwan and Dacosta, but the visitors could not produce a sustained run. By the final minutes, Delaware was able to clear its bench and finish with a comfortable margin.

Delaware kept widening the gap with balanced scoring and efficient offense. The Blue Hens scored 105 points from 79 possessions, an offensive rating of 133.5, and finished with 14 assists, 10 offensive rebounds and eight blocks. Delaware committed 11 turnovers and nine fouls. Notre Dame was limited to 44 points and struggled to generate consistent offense after its early baskets. Delaware’s defense blocked eight shots and made Notre Dame work for nearly every look. The game was Delaware’s season opener, and the Blue Hens improved to 1-0. The non-divisional matchup allowed Delaware to use its depth, and the Blue Hens finished with a comfortable margin while holding Notre Dame to 44 points.

Bailey led the Blue Hens with 22 points in 20 minutes. Harris-Smith added 10 points, seven rebounds and 11 assists in 25 minutes. Kazanecki scored 14 points and collected six rebounds, while Petronio also scored 14 points with two rebounds and three assists. Solano posted 11 points and 10 rebounds. Nzeh had six points, four rebounds and three blocks. Taylor scored 10 points, Brown added five points and two assists, Eugene Alvin had four points, two rebounds and two assists, and Egbuna contributed two points and four rebounds off the bench.

Notre Dame’s offense was led by Tutuwan, who scored 15 points. Dacosta and Morgan each scored eight points, while McKenney-George finished with six. Smith scored four points and Corley-Pugh added three. Notre Dame could not string together enough stops to slow Delaware after the Blue Hens’ early run. Delaware’s lead only grew as the game wore on, and the Blue Hens emptied their bench while finishing off the comfortable win.

Notre Dame’s best moments came early in the second half, when McKenney-George scored on a layup and Tutuwan converted a layup and free throw. Dacosta also made a layup late, and Morgan hit a 3-pointer and two free throws. Corley-Pugh added a tip-in and a free throw. Those plays trimmed the deficit slightly, but Delaware answered each time and never allowed Notre Dame to close within 20 points after the early run.

Delaware is scheduled to visit Wisconsin on Nov. 6 before hosting James Madison on Nov. 11, Colgate on Nov. 15 and Wilson on Nov. 17. The Blue Hens then visit Cal State Northridge on Nov. 20 and UCLA on Nov. 22, visit Stony Brook on Nov. 28, and host Bucknell on Dec. 2, Yale on Dec. 5 and William & Mary on Dec. 10.