Coming into Monday's Big East basketball game in Syracuse Notre Dame junior Jerian Grant was averaging 12.3 points a game, while his brother, Syracuse freshman Jerami Grant, carried just a 5.0 scoring average. The two sons of former NBA standout Harvey Grant combined for 29 points as Syracuse beat Notre Dame 63-47.
The younger Grant was making just his second career start (and second in as many games) for the Orange and finished with 14 points. Jerian Grant led the Irish with 15 points in the loss.
The loss snaps Notre Dame's (18-5, 6-4) three-game winning streak, while Syracuse (19-3, 7-2) ends its own two-game slide and extends its nation-leading home court winning streak to 36 games. Notre Dame is 9-12 all-time in Syracuse, including a 3-10 record in the Carrier Dome. Their last win in the Dome was on Jan. 30, 2007 - a 103-91 victory.
It took Notre Dame nearly six minutes to score its first points. Syracuse jumped out to a 10-0 lead as the Irish missed their first five shots and committed an uncharacteristic five turnovers before Eric Atkins hit a three-pointer with 14:08 on the clock in the first half.
Jerian Grant hit a deep three from the top of the arc on Notre Dame's next possession. Jack Cooley followed with a layup and then Atkins drilled another trey and suddenly Notre Dame was on top 11-10 with a stunning 11-0 run in a span of just over two minutes. Syracuse missed its first nine three-pointers before Trevor Cooney connected from behind the arc.
The Irish average just 10.3 turnovers a game, but they committed nine with still 4:00 to play in the first half. They settled down and ended-up with 11 turnovers in the game.
Cooley managed his 15th double-double of the season in defeat. The senior center scored 10 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. It marked his sixth consecutive game with at least 10 boards. Cooley had just two points at halftime.
Tom Knight started his fourth straight game, but Brey went with Cameron Biedscheid to start the second half. The freshman was named Big East Rookie of the Week for his play last week when he scored a total of 25 points in wins over Villanova and DePaul. Knight finished with just two points. Biedscheid score seven points.
Notre Dame fell behind 34-24 less than 2:00 minutes into the second half. The deficit reached 15 points with 11:00 to play and the Fighting Irish could never catch up.
The Irish shot just 18-for-52 (34%) in the loss. They were a mere 6-for-20 (30%) from three-point range and 5-of-10 from the free throw line. ND lost for the first time this season while wearing black uniforms. They had won their previous three times out in black with green lettering.
Notre Dame is back in action Saturday night when ESPN's College Game Day comes to town for the Louisville game. Game Day will be on campus all day. Saturday night's tip-off is at 9 p.m. ET.
