Already having defeated Syracuse on its home court earlier this month, Notre Dame was given a chance to sweep the season series in South Bend on Wednesday. Instead, they’ll have to figure out how to right the ship quickly after an 84-82 loss.
This game featured 16 lead changes between two ACC teams trying to either bolster their NCAA tournament resume or simply get back in the picture. After the Irish (11-7, 2-5) took a 69-68 lead, they watched the Orange (12-7, 5-3) go on a 12-4 run that put the game out of reach. Notre Dame whittled the deficit from eight to two, but by then, it was too late.
The biggest consolation for the Irish was John Mooney’s program-record 12th straight double-double, which consisted of 21 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Dane Goodwin came off the bench to score 15 points, T.J. Gibbs scored 13, and Nate Laszewski poured in 11 for the second unit.
More than half of the Irish’s field-goal attempts (68) came from beyond 3-point range (36). Thirteen of those 3s went in.