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Atkinson, Jr. Leads the Irish as Notre Dame Soars Past Syracuse, 79-69

Notre Dame stays in the hunt for an ACC regular season title

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Paul Atkinson, Jr. scored 20 points and pulled down a career high 17 rebounds to lead Notre Dame to a 79-69 win over Syracuse in ACC play on Monday night.

Notre Dame (20-8, 13-4) had four players score in double-figures and overcame a four-point deficit at the half to pick up the win.  Nate Laszewski, despite feeling ill before the game, scored 17 points.  Prentiss Hubb had a season high 10 assists in the win.

“Our defense played well the last 10 minutes,” said Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey.  “We were really poised against the (Syracuse) zone on offense and the crowd was outstanding.”

Jimmy Boeheim scored a season high 27 points for Syracuse (15-13, 9-8), while his brother, Buddy, added 20 points for the Orange.

Notre Dame, who picked up its 20 with of the season and its twelfth game at Purcell Pavilion this season, is one game behind Duke in the ACC standings.  The Blue Devils stayed ahead of the Irish by defeating Virginia on Wednesday night.

Only three games remain for the Irish in the regular season with two games being at home.

Notre Dame will host Georgia Tech at Purcell Pavilion this Saturday afternoon at 5 p.m. EST.

1st Half

Media Timeouts

#1 – 15:25 Syracuse 8-7 – ND’s Atkinson, Jr. with four points

#2 – 10:29 Tied – SU’s Jimmy Boeheim with seven points

#3 – 7:21 Syracuse 27-23 – SU FG: 53% – ND FG: 42%

#4 – 3:43 Syracuse 32-31 – ND with 19 rebounds – SU nine rebounds

Halftime Score 

Notre Dame 42

Syracuse 38

ND leading scorer – Paul Atkinson, Jr. with 14 points and 11 rebounds

Syracuse leading scorer – Jimmy Boeheim with 21 points

2nd Half

Media Timeouts

#1 – 15:58 Syracuse 47-45 – The Orange with a 9-0 run

#2 – 11:59 Notre Dame 58-47 – Irish on a 13-0 run

#3 – 7:10 Notre Dame 62-55 – ND with 17 assists – SU eight assists

#4 – 4:00 Notre Dame 65-63 – 6-0 SU run

Final Score

Notre Dame 79

Syracuse 69

ND leading scorer – Paul Atkinson, Jr. with 20 points and a career high 17 rebounds

Syracuse leading scorer – Jimmy Boeheim with 27 points

ND - FG: 40% - 3FG: 33% - FT: 86% - 41 Rebounds  

Syracuse - FG: 46% - 3FG: 26% - FT: 73% - 28 Rebounds

Game Notes

Largest Notre Dame lead: 12 points

Largest Syracuse lead: 4 points

Ties: 12

Lead Changes: 15

Technical Fouls: None

Tip-ins

Syracuse now leads the series 31-23