Burton held to 2 points
From the opening tip, SMU imposed its will on Notre Dame, cruising to a 97-73 victory at Purcell Pavilion. The Mustangs shot a scorching 58.6% from the field, dominated the rebounding battle (43-20), and controlled the pace, handing the Irish a tough home loss.
First Half: SMU Sets the Tone Early
Notre Dame (11-15, 5-10 ACC) found itself in a hole almost immediately as SMU (20-6, 11-4 ACC) opened the game with crisp ball movement, high-percentage looks, and suffocating defense. The Mustangs stormed to a 50-25 halftime lead, capitalizing on strong interior play and efficient outside shooting.
Kario Oquendo was nearly unstoppable, finishing with a game high 25 points on 8-of-10 shooting while knocking down three triples. Matt Cross (14 points, 9 rebounds) and Samet Yigitoglu (14 points, 6 rebounds) provided additional support, ensuring SMU controlled the paint and the glass.
For Notre Dame, Braeden Shrewsberry provided a spark with 21 points (5-8 3PT), but the Irish struggled mightily in the first half, shooting just 32.3% from deep and 41.8% overall.
Second Half: Irish Show Fight, but SMU Stays in Command
Notre Dame improved offensively in the second half, outscoring SMU 48-47, but the deficit was too steep. The Irish found some rhythm behind Tae Davis (13 points, 5 rebounds) and Gabe Sundra (11 points, 2-3 3PT), yet SMU continued to find answers.
Oquendo’s three-pointer with 8:09 left pushed SMU’s lead to 34 points, its largest of the game. The Mustangs closed out the contest with 21-of-27 free throws and eight three-pointers, never allowing the Irish to make a serious run.
The Mustangs held Markus Burton, the ACC’s leading scorer, to just 2 points.
Key Stats & Takeaways
- SMU controlled the boards (43-20), limiting second-chance opportunities.
- The Mustangs dominated inside (46-20 PIP), punishing Notre Dame in the paint.
- Notre Dame’s shooting struggles continued (10-31 from 3PT), making it difficult to close the gap.
- Chuck Harris (11 points, 7 assists) orchestrated the SMU offense, keeping the Irish defense off balance.
What’s Next?
For Notre Dame, the loss highlights a need for more consistency on both ends of the floor as they prepare for tougher competition. The Irish will look to regroup and tighten up their defense while finding ways to establish a stronger offensive identity when they host Pitt this Saturday, February 22, at 2:15 p.m. ET at the Purcell Pavilion.
Check out the whole game breakdown at the Len Zone!