The Notre Dame Fighting Irish got back on track this Saturday in a win over Syracuse, 69-64. The Irish won their first ACC game after losing five games in a row. The Irish sit at 5-5 (1-0 in ACC play).
Photo by Notre Dame Athletics
Braeden Shrewsberry led the Irish in scoring with 25. Shrewsberry shot 8-15 from the field and 6-11 from three. Tae Davis and J.R. Koneiczny both had 15. Davis shot 6-8 from the field and 1-2 from three. Koneiczny shot 6-12 from the field and 1-2 from three while coming off the bench. Koneiczny brought a lot of energy off the bench and gave the Irish some big-time minutes after only averaging 7.6 minutes per game during the losing streak.
The Irish took a quick 8-6 lead at the 15:53 mark in the first half. Davis made a layup to start the game followed by a Shrewsberry three-pointer that he got fouled on and he made the free throw to convert the four-point play and another Davis layup.
At the 11:33 mark, The Irish held onto the lead and led 14-9 after shooting several times at the free-throw line and maintaining lots of pressure on defense.
Heading into the half, Notre Dame was up 30-26. The Irish and Orange were very evenly matched. The Irish did not allow a single three-pointer this half and Syracuse ended the half with an air ball on a three-point attempt.
The Irish and Orange both came out of the half shooting the ball well and trading baskets. The Irish led 36-34 at the 15:38 mark.
Notre Dame and Syracuse continued to trade baskets to make it a tie game, 45-45, at the 11:50 mark. Shrewsberry for the Irish and Jyare Davis for the Orange both had the hot hand.
The Irish and Orange continued to go back and forth and the Irish took back a one point lead, 52-51, at the 7:59 mark.
The Irish headed into the final media timeout at the 2:55 mark after Shrewsberry hit a big three-pointer for the Irish to go ahead 63-60.
Syracuse would eventually have to play the foul game and the Irish pulled away to take a five-point lead and win the game, 69-64. Coach Shrewsberry needed a win after going almost three weeks without a win.
“We needed to be in a close game and we needed to win a close game.”
Coach Shrewsberry was glad to win a close game as he and the Irish have been on the losing end of multiple close games over the past couple of weeks.
Notre Dame and Syracuse were back and forth the whole game. The Irish stayed tough and were able to snap a five-game losing streak with a 69-64 win. Shrewsberry, Davis, and Koenieczny all had double figures for the Irish in the victory. Notre Dame shot the ball well as they finished 44.9% from the field and 36.4% from three. Notre Dame got a much-needed win and they will look to win another one at home as they take on Dartmouth on Wednesday at 7:00 PM EST on ACC Extra/ESPN+.
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