Home Streak Reaches 36 In SU Win

Monday, February 4

Syracuse, N.Y.

7:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

(19-3) (7-2)

#25/arv Notre Dame

(18-5) (6-4)

Notre Dame

Syracuse

Freshman Jerami Grant contributed a career-high 14 points in the Orange victory against the Irish

2/4/2013 7:49:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Syracuse 63, Notre Dame 47 | Coach Boeheim Quotes | Student-Athlete Quotes | Photo Gallery

SYRACUSE – In a BIG EAST Conference battle that featured brothers Jerami and Jerian Grant on opposite sides, #9/9 Syracuse (19-3, 7-2) emerged with the nation's longest home-court winning streak intact in a 63-47 victory against #25/rv Notre Dame (18-5, 6-4) in the Carrier Dome.

The Orange victory was the program's 36th straight at home -- the best active home run in the Division I ranks.

"Obviously Notre Dame beat us last year out there and when you lose two in a row in this league you get nervous – everybody does -- so this was a really good bounce-back win for us," said SU coach Jim Boeheim.

C.J. Fair led the Orange with a double-double (18 points and 10 rebounds) and Grant posted a career-best 14 points in his second collegiate start.

Sophomore Rakeem Christmas also contributed double-digit scoring, tallying 12 points, and added four blocks.

Syracuse jumped out of the blocks with the game's first 10 points, a stretch keyed by Brandon Triche and Grant, who each had four points. The Irish responded in kind, tallying 11 unanswered points that featured back-to-back three-pointers from Eric Atkins.

Fair answered with two free throws and the Orange never trailed again. With Syracuse clinging to an 18-17 advantage with 7:20 left in the opening period, the Orange scored six straight points -- three by Fair -- to go up by seven. Grant scored twice in the final 1:32 and SU headed into the intermission with a 30-24 advantage.

Syracuse opened the second half by scoring 13 of the first 17 points. Christmas had six of the 13 and the Orange led, 43-28, with 11:08 remaining. Notre Dame shaved the advantage back down to eight but a jumper by Grant had the home team ahead 15 again, 52-37.

SU made all six of its free throws in the final 2:02 of the game and Fair wrapped up the scoring with a three-pointer with 11 seconds left to clinch the 63-47 decision.

SU will return to action this Sunday, Feb. 10^th when it hosts St. John's at 3 p.m. in the Carrier Dome. The conference matchup will be broadcast live on ESPN.