Syracuse University
Notre Dame
Season's Top Crowd Sees #8/8 Syracuse Fight Off #12/13 Irish, 93-74
1/17/2009 1:52:00 PM | Men's Basketball
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – A season-high crowd of 30,021 saw six players tally double-digit points to lead #8/8 Syracuse (17-2, 5-1) past #12/13 Notre Dame (12-5, 3-3), 93-74. The contest marked the 65th time the Dome has had a gathering of 30,000-or-more.
Junior center Arinze Onuaku paced the Orange attack with 19 points. Sophomore Jonny Flynn and junior Eric Devendorf recorded 17 and 16 points, respectively, and Flynn contributed nine assists for the third straight outing. Junior Paul Harris (15 points, 10 rebounds) and sophomore Rick Jackson (14 points, 10 rebounds), each had double-doubles. Junior Andy Rautins rounded out the top scorers for the Orange with 10 points.
Notre Dame forward Luke Harangody, a national player-of-the-year candidate, had 26 points and 15 rebounds for the Irish although the Orange defenders limited him to 9-of-28 shooting from the field.
Syracuse made a statement early against the Irish. With the contest knotted at 12-12, the Orange embarked on a 18-5 run keyed by five points from Rautins and four from Onuaku. Notre Dame managed to shave the advantage and Harangody's lane jumper brought the visitors within seven by the intermission, 42-35. Harangody, the 2007-08 BIG EAST Conference Player of the Year, already had a double-double by the break, having accumulated 14 points and 11 rebounds.
The Orange came out of the half and outscored the Irish 17-7 over the first five minutes of the second period. Onuaku had six points during the run. Syracuse was able to maintain its double-digit advantage for most of the second half although the high-scoring Irish had one more significant challenge left. Kyle McAlarney, who finished with 24 points, converted a three with 6:14 left, to pull Notre Dame within five at 74-69. Another three from McAlarney had the Irish close at 78-72, with 3:52 ticks on the clock.
A jumper from Devendorf, a layup by Flynn, Devendorf's free throw and a Harris layup pushed the margin back to 13, 85-72. After missing its first six free-throw attempts, the Orange made 12-of-14 from the line to finish out the contest.
Syracuse was 37-of-67 (.552) from the field and held a commanding 54-24 advantage on points in the paint. The Orange also outscored Notre Dame 39-11 in fast-break situations. The SU defense held the Irish to 27-of-76 (.355) from the field and 13-of-33 (.394) on three-point attempts.
The victory halted a three-game Orange losing streak to the Irish and helped Syracuse rebound from its 88-74 loss at #13/12 Georgetown on Wednesday. Syracuse improved its Dome record with crowds of 30,000 to 44-21 all-time.
It was the second time this season that Syracuse had six players in double digits.
Syracuse heads out on the road for a Monday-night matchup with #1/1 Pittsburgh on January 19, the third consecutive game against a rack foe. The Orange will return to the Dome for a Noon matchup with the Louisville Cardinals on January 25. Tickets can be purchased online at SUathletics.com, by phone at 1-800-DomeTix or in person at the Carrier Dome box office during regular business hours.
