SOUTH BEND – Tim Abromaitis, a junior making his first start, scored a career-high 31 points Sunday to lead Notre Dame to a 90-72 victory over Central Florida.

Abromaitis was 10-of-17 shooting from the floor, including 3 of 7 from three-point range, and was 8 of 9 from the free-throw line for the Irish (8-1). His basket at the halftime buzzer tied the game at 41.

“I think it’s really my teammates who set me up for that. I got a lot of easy shots out there,” said Abromaitis, who did not play as a sophomore last season.

Notre Dame coach Mike Brey said he started Abromaitis instead of Jonathan Peoples because he wanted to get another offensive threat on the floor early, and because at 6-foot-8, Abromaitis gave the Irish a bigger lineup.

Luke Harangody, who added 29 points, said Abromaitis takes some pressure off him.

“This is just the beginning,” Harangody said. “He’s one of the hardest working players I know.”

Keith Clanton led UCF (6-2) with 14 points and seven rebounds. With his father, Michael Jordan, watching from the upper press box, freshman Marcus Jordan was 4-of-4 shooting for nine points in 20 minutes.

Women

NORTHWESTERN 60, PURDUE 58: The Boilermakers let a 12-point lead slip away, falling to the Wildcats for the first time since 1997.

Purdue did not have a field goal in the final 9:07 of the game. Purdue (3-5, 0-1 Big Ten) had won 21 straight against Northwestern (6-2, 1-0). Jodi Howell led Purdue with 17 points.