The Irish hoped to continue the momentum at home after a great win over Michigan St. Wednesday night. The Syracuse Orange came to town with a 3-4 record hoping to get back to even.
Opening the first half the Irish and the Syracuse Orange traded blows making 13-10 about 5 minutes in. Notre Dame made their living from deep opening 3-5 from beyond the arc. While the Irish would continue that trend, Syracuse continued to go underneath as Girard III was mostly held in check from deep early on. The Orange were able to take a lead with 11 minutes remaining in the first, just before it was knotted up 21-21 halfway through the first.