On Saturday, January 31, Syracuse University (12-9, 3-5) will face off against Notre Dame (11-10, 2-6 ACC) at the JMA Wireless Dome at 6:00 p.m. This matchup holds special significance as the university will honor the late Lawrence Moten during halftime. A ceremony commemorating Moten’s remarkable basketball career and his contributions to the Syracuse community will feature video highlights and the attendance of his family members. Moten, who passed away on September 30 at the age of 53, is celebrated as Syracuse’s all-time leading scorer with 2,334 points amassed over 121 games from 1991 to 1995. His legacy was honored with his jersey number 21 being retired in 2018.
Syracuse enters the game as one of the top performers in ACC play, particularly in 3-point shooting, maintaining a successful shooting percentage of 37.5% in league play. Their sophomore forward, whose scoring has been nothing short of impressive, is averaging 19.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. Despite missing initial games due to injury, he has made a significant impact since his return, scoring 20 points or more in multiple games, including a standout performance with a career-high 27 points against Georgia Tech. In their recent matchup, he achieved a team-high 24 points along with 10 rebounds.
Defensively, Syracuse has been formidable, ranking second nationally with an average of 7.1 blocks per game. A key contributor is the senior player, who averages 2.71 blocks per game, helping maintain a defensive stronghold by limiting opponents to an average of 69.9 points per game.
Notre Dame, struggling to regain its footing after a promising start, recently lost six of its last seven games but put up a strong fight against #17 Virginia, pushing the match into double overtime before falling 100-97. With leading scorer Markus Burton absent due to injury, the Fighting Irish have relied on freshman Jalen Haralson, who averages 15.0 points per game. Braeden Shrewsberry has also been a bright spot for the team, leading the ACC in 3-point shooting percentage with 42%.
Historically, Syracuse has an edge in the rivalry with Notre Dame, leading the all-time series 35-24 and winning four out of the last five contests, including a 77-69 victory in the previous year, where the leading scorer contributed significantly.
As the two teams prepare to square off, fans are encouraged to witness a pivotal moment in Syracuse basketball history while supporting their team in what promises to be an engaging matchup. Season and individual tickets are available at cuse.com/feature/basketball-tickets.