Syracuse, N.Y. -- Notre Dame's defenders shut down the Syracuse offense by fighting basketball instincts honed since the eight grade.
Well-worn lessons like "hand down, man down" and the importance of denying open shots all had to be ignored by the Fighting Irish on Saturday during a 51-49 win over Syracuse, one that came without their two best players.
"I've been at Notre Dame 18 years and I've had a lot of great wins," said Notre Dame coach Mike Brey, who celebrated setting a Notre Dame school record with his 394th victory earlier in the week. "This is as good a win, given that I have Bonzie Colson and Matt Farrell sitting in their apartment in South Bend, Ind.