Syracuse Routs Notre Dame 81-66

Syracuse’s vaunted 2-3 zone proved impossible for Notre Dame to solve minus star junior guard Demetrius Jackson.

The No. 25 Irish (14-6 overall, 5-3 ACC) committed 11 turnovers and shot just 23 of 55 (41.8 percent) from the field in an 81-66 loss at Syracuse (14-8 overall, 4-5 ACC) on Thursday night, playing their first game without the team’s leading scorer Jackson, who sat out the contest with a pulled hamstring.

Notre Dame opened with a 5-0 lead via a bucket from sophomore forward Bonzie Colson and a three-pointer by junior forward V.J. Beachem, forcing Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim to call a timeout less than two minutes into the game.

The Orange responded with 10 straight points after the Irish committed an early three turnovers before the first media timeout. Notre Dame earned a few wide-open shots early but couldn't convert, including a miss from freshman guard Rex Pflueger.

The rookie — making his first career start — was open again on the next possession, but wisely dished to Beachem in the corner, although he could not convert either.

Cold shooting continued early for the Irish, helping Syracuse grab an 18-6 lead with 11:35 left in the first half. Notre Dame started the game just 2 of 8 from the field, including 1 of 6 from three-point range.

The first half continued to be all Orange and Notre Dame never pulled even within single digits before trailing 44-27 at halftime. Junior guard Steve Vasturia hit a halfcourt buzzer-beater to keep the Irish from trailing 20 going into the locker room.

Notre Dame started the second half with two straight makes and stops to pull within 44-32. Syracuse answered with a sequence that included a four-point play to jump back ahead 54-36 with 15:15 to play, and retook a 20-point lead at the 11:35 mark.

Boeheim’s squad cruised the rest of the game, extending the margin to 70-46 with 8:06 to play. The Orange led 74-56 at the 4:09 mark before the eventual 81-66 final.

The Irish were visibly frustrated down the stretch. Freshman forward Matt Ryan — who finished the game 2 of 9 from three-point range — and a Syracuse player were called for double technical fouls after exchanging words when they were tangled up in a rebounding situation. Colson was also called for an intentional foul for wrapping up another Orange player.

Beachem led the Irish in scoring with 22 points on 8-of-13 shooting, including a 5-of-8 effort from long distance. Vasturia also finished in double figures with 16.

The Irish return home to host Wake Forest on Sunday. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. ET.

Box Score: LINK.

Game Notes:

• Junior guard Demetrius Jackson had played in 62 straight contests prior to sitting out tonight’s game with a pulled hamstring.

• Beachem’s 22 points were a new career high for the junior.

• The Irish fell to 19-28 all time against Syracuse, and 9-14 on the road.

• Head coach Mike Brey fell to 6-16 all time at Notre Dame against the Orange.