SYRACUSE – For the Notre Dame men’s basketball squad on Saturday, it was a first half to forget followed by one of the most dramatic second halves in program history that witnessed a furious rally inside the JMA Wireless Dome. The Fighting Irish (10-17, 5-11) trailed by as much as 29 points to Syracuse and cut it to just three points with one minute remaining in the game. The Irish actually had two cracks at it to tie in the final minute but both attempts fell short as the Orange (18-10, 9-8) escaped with the 88-85 win.
The Irish trailed 29-49 at the half and then outscored the Orange 56-39 in the second in what was their most prolific scoring half all season. Notre Dame shot 68.8 percent from the field (22-32 FG) in the second half, plus 10-of-15 from three-point range.
Markus Burton and Braeden Shrewsberry scored 20 and 18 points respectively in the second half, thus 38 of the team’s 56 points. Burton finished with 28 points, one shy of his season high, and eight assists.
Shrewsberry hit all six of his three-pointers in the second half (6-of-9), thus all 18 of his points. He has now drained 13 triples over the last two games.
Tae Davis rounded out the Irish players in double figures with 12 points, seven rebounds and a career high five assists. Carey Booth tallied nine points and four rebounds, while Julian Roper II notched eight points and seven boards.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Kebba Njie and Carey Booth made it 5-0 Irish in the first two minutes and then it went downhill fast. Syracuse’s defense caused major problems early as the Orange forced seven ND turnovers, spurring a 27-5 run to go up 27-10 at the 9:17 mark.
Syracuse ultimately shot a blistering 61 percent in the first half (20-33) and finished with 11 forced turnovers that resulted in 23 of their 49 halftime points. Notre Dame did finish the half with a 9-0 run over the final 89 seconds to make it 49-29 at the break. The Irish ended up shooting 50 percent (10-20) in the half but with 13 fewer shot attempts than the Orange.
From 17:09-15:21 in the second, Shrewsberry drained back-to-back triples, then Burton added a trey followed by an and-one. Moments later, Davis threw down a dunk, and the once 29-point Syracuse lead was cut to 10 at 55-45.
The Irish hot hand continued as they ultimately recorded a stretch in which they converted 14-of-18 from the field. Davis added to the three party, then Burton, then Shrewsberry with back-to-back triples yet again. Next, a Njie layup at 8:03 made it a four-point ballgame at 65-69.
And right when the Irish were finding their groove, the Syracuse offense fired off a 6-for-8 shooting spurt from the field to push its lead back up to 10 points.
Yet, the Irish refused to go away and kept battling. Enter Shrewsberry again with another stretch of back-to-back triples, making the crowd groan when the ball left his hands. Then Roper connected on a three with 1:07 remaining and it was a one-possession game down 86-83.
After a defensive stand, Shrewsberry had another crack at it with 17 seconds left but it fell short. After Syracuse (two free throws) and Notre Dame (Burton drive and score) traded two points, the Irish fouled and sent Copeland to the line who missed the front-end of a one-and-one.
Burton got the ball and took it down the court as Coach Shrewsberry tried to call a timeout but the ref didn’t grant it. Burton’s three attempt with five seconds left fell short as well as what would have been the biggest rally in program history and by an ACC member.
UP NEXT
The Irish return to Purcell Pavilion next week for their final two home games. Up first is Wake Forest on Tuesday, Feb. 27, at 9 p.m. ET. Then the home finale aka Senior Day will take place on Saturday, March 2, at 7:45 p.m.
— ND –