Sports

Notre Dame tops Pitt, likely earns NCAA bid

Notre Dame came to New York this week on the NCAA Tournament bubble. The Fighting Irish could leave Big East Tournament champions.

Seventh-seeded Notre Dame stunned No. 2 seed Pittsburgh 50-45 in the quarterfinals last night at the Garden, and is two wins away from the school’s first Big East title.

After winning six straight games the question now is not whether Notre Dame will be in the NCAA tourney, but what seed the Irish will get.

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“This run we made at the end of the season, it was pretty special,” Irish forward Luke Harangody said. “Now to make a run in the Big East Tournament is great as well. We’re just looking forward to playing well [tonight] and having the momentum we had [last night].”

Notre Dame (23-10) faces the winner of last night’s late game between West Virginia and Cincinnati in tonight’s semifinals. It is the Irish’s third trip to the Big East semis. They have never made the final.

Pittsburgh (24-8) became the third favorite to falter yesterday, following top-seeded Syracuse and No. 4 seed Villanova. Suddenly the extra rest afforded to the top four teams does not look so nice.

“So much for the double byes, huh?” Notre Dame coach Mike Brey said.

With traditional powers Syracuse, Villanova and Pittsburgh all bowing out, the tournament feels more like the Big Midwest than the Big East. Georgetown is the only team remaining that has won a Big East Tournament.

The Irish advanced to the semis using the plodding style they adopted a month ago when Harangody went down with a bone bruise in his knee. Notre Dame played relentless defense and drained the shot clock on nearly every possession. The Irish had 14 assists on their 18 field goals.

The Irish took an early lead and held on to it throughout the game. Pittsburgh tied it up once just before halftime, but never led after 4-2.

“We’ve got to play better,” Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon said. “We had plenty of opportunities to take the lead and we just couldn’t get over that hump.”

The Panthers closed to within 47-45 with 1:42 left in the game on a Brad Wanamaker bucket. They had several chances to tie it up or take the lead, but the Irish defense came through each time.

“I thought we really defended the last seven minutes to win the game,” Brey said. “I thought we were fabulous at that end of the floor.”

When Harangody traveled with 1:08 left, Pittsburgh looked as if it had the opening it was waiting for. But Wanamaker and Jermaine Dixon missed baskets on subsequent possessions and Harangody was able to put the game away with two free throws.

Harangoudy and Tory Jackson led the Irish with 12 points apiece.

For Notre Dame, the win continues a remarkable turnaround. The Irish were 6-8 in the league before winning their last four regular-season games. With two wins at the Garden this week, the Irish have moved from NCAA bubble to NCAA berth.

brian.costello@nypost.com