Jackson scores career-high 27 for No. 19 Notre Dame

Published Nov. 13, 2015 10:33 p.m. ET

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SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) Demetrius Jackson scored a career-high 27 points to lead No. 19 Notre Dame to an 87-56 victory over St. Francis (Pa.) on Friday night in the season opener for both teams.

Jackson made 10 of 14 shots from the field, including three 3-pointers, for the Fighting Irish.

Zach Auguste added 15 points and 14 rebounds for Notre Dame and Steve Vasturia had 10 points.

Greg Brown scored 15 points for the Red Flash.

Notre Dame used a 22-5 run in the second half to pull away. Its biggest lead of the first half was 35-21.

The Irish outscored the Red Flash 19-10 in the last 10 minutes of the opening half and 21-9 in the first 10 minutes of the second half.

The biggest lead in the second half was 87-53.

While Jackson had 16 points and seven rebounds in the second half, Auguste collected 11 points and nine rebounds in the first half.

Not only did Jackson make shots on the perimeter, the 6-foot-1 junior had a dunk and several other drives to the basket.

Auguste, a 6-10 senior, grabbed 10 defensive rebounds while going 6 of 12 from the field.

St. Francis experienced a stretch of nearly 5 minutes without a point in the second half as Notre Dame extended its lead to 56-37 and never let the Red Flash get closer than 22 points the rest of the game.

TIP-INS

St. Francis: The Red Flash last led the game at 11-10 with 12:37 to go in the first half.

Notre Dame: The Irish enjoyed a 53-31 rebounding advantage, including 31-17 in the second half.

CELEBRATION

Notre Dame raised its 2014-15 Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament championship banner before the game. It was the second season in the conference and first ACC Tournament title for the Irish.

FOR OPENERS

Notre Dame is 93-18 all-time in season openers and has won all 16 openers under coach Mike Brey. The last time the Irish lost in the opener was in 1998, against Miami (Ohio).

St. Francis has lost six straight openers. The last season-opening win for the Red Flash came in 2009-10. They have not won a true road season opener since 1966, at Duquesne.

ANOTHER NOVEMBER TO REMEMBER

Notre Dame is 58-1 at home in November under Brey.

UNBLEMISHED

Notre Dame's all-time record against the Red Flash is 13-0 and it is 25-0 all-time against current members of the Northeast Conference.

UP NEXT

St. Francis: Hosts Westminster on Tuesday.

Notre Dame: Hosts Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Tuesday.