Jan. 2, 2001
Notre Dame at Syracuse Box Score
By JOHN KEKIS
AP Sports Writer
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Allen Griffin scored 11 of his 20 points over the final 3:42 and Damone Brown had 26 points and 13 rebounds for the second straight game as No. 14 Syracuse beat No. 21 Notre Dame 79-70 Tuesday night in the Big East opener for both teams.
It was the fifth straight win for Syracuse (12-1) over the Irish (8-3) and another disappointment for their star Troy Murphy, who has yet to participate in a win over the Orangemen. He finished with 19 points and only five rebounds as the Irish saw their four-game winning streak snapped despite shooting 50 percent.
Ryan Humphrey had 18 points and 11 rebounds and Matt Carroll had 14 points for Notre Dame, which couldn’t control Griffin when the game was on the line.
David Graves, who was averaging 16.7 points for the Irish, finished with only five and fouled out in the final two minutes.
Preston Shumpert added 16 points for Syracuse and guard DeShaun Williams matched Graves’ futility. Williams, who was averaging 14.5 points, didn’t score until he hit two free throws with 7:58 remaining and was 1-for-10 from the field.
With Syracuse leading 65-64, Griffin converted a three-point play with 3:42 to go and hit a 22-foot 3-pointer less than a minute later to give Syracuse a 71-64 lead. He also made five free throws over the final 1:33.
Trailing 35-25, Notre Dame opened the second half with a 10-2 run. A three-point play by Murphy, two baskets by Humphrey, and a 3-pointer by Martin Ingelsby pulled the Irish within 39-37 four minutes into the period.
Then it was the Orangemen’s turn to rally. Brown hit a hook in the lane and a jumper from the top of the key, reserve Kueth Duany converted two free throws after an intentional foul by Murphy, and Shumpert made a layup after Syracuse retained possession to put the Orangemen up 49-39 with 12:50 left.
The Irish, who never led after scoring the game’s first basket, refused to fold. Murphy hit a jumper in the lane and followed with a lay-in to move Notre Dame within 60-59 with 6:09 left.
Syracuse’s zone made the Irish appear tentative all game and forced 20 turnovers. Notre Dame was 1-for-10 from the foul line in the first half and 8-for-21 in the game.