Rosemont, IL -- (Sports Network) - Luke Harangody scored 24 points as 17th- ranked Notre Dame staved off a late DePaul rally to down the Blue Demons, 98-91, at the All-State Arena.

The win enabled Notre Dame to lock up one of the top four spots in the Big East and a bye into the quarterfinals of the conference tourney.

Rob Kurz added 21 points for the Fighting Irish (22-6, 12-4 Big East), who bounced back from a 90-85 loss at Louisville to win for the fourth time and five games. Luke Zeller and Kyle McAlarney each chipped in with 13 points.

Freshman Dar Tucker poured in a career-high 28 points off the bench for the Blue Demons (10-18, 5-11), who lost for the fifth straight time and for the ninth time in 10 games. Mac Koshwal finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds.

Notre Dame took charge of a close game with a 12-3 run in the first half. Luke Zeller capped the burst with a three to give the Irish a 20-11 edge with 11:54 left in the frame.

The Blue Demons responded with a 9-2 spurt of their own to get right back in things. Wesley Green finished the run with a jumper to draw DePaul within a bucket, 22-20, with 9:42 remaining in the first half.

McAlarney stopped the bleeding for Notre Dame with a long three and the Irish exploded over the next several minutes. Zeller dropped in another three to give the Notre Dame a double-digit cushion, 41-29.

Ryan Ayers then capped the scoring in the opening half with another triple to put the Irish in front 47-31.

Notre Dame then really put the game away by opening the second half with a 13-1 run. Harangody highlighted the burst with a pair of layups and Kurz finished it with a trey to make it a 60-32 game with 17:12 left.

With the game seemingly out of reach, DePaul went on a furious run paced by Tucker and a frenetic defense. Tucker buried a three with 3:34 left to draw the Blue Demons within seven points.

That was as close as DePaul would get as McAlarney made four key free throws in the waning minutes to help seal things for the Irish.

Game Notes

Notre Dame is now 4-4 in true road games and leads the all-time series, 54-44...The Irish made 13-of-23 from beyond the arc.