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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) -- Allen Griffin has just this season left at
Syracuse to make a name for himself. So far, he's right on target.
|  | | DeShaun Williams, left, tied up Notre Dame's David Graves as Allen Griffin stripped the ball away for Syracuse. |
The senior point guard, relegated to reserve status last season
behind Jason Hart, scored 11 of his 20 points over the final 3:42
to break open a tight game as Syracuse (No. 13 ESPN/USA Today, No. 14 AP) earned a 79-70 victory over Notre
Dame (No. 25 ESPN/USA Today, No. 21 AP) on Tuesday night in the Big East opener for both teams.
With Syracuse holding a 65-64 lead, Griffin converted a
three-point play and hit a 22-foot 3-pointer less than a minute
later to give the Orangemen a comfortable 71-64 lead.
Griffin, who also had six rebounds, six assists and no
turnovers, made five free throws in the final two minutes as
Syracuse (12-1) beat the Irish (8-3) for the fifth straight time.
The crucial 3-pointer was Griffin's second of the game but only
his fourth this season.
"It was just there," said Griffin, who had missed 19
3-pointers entering the night and also misfired on his first three
against the Irish. "I'm kind of struggling from the 3-point line
this year, but if they get it to me, I'm going to shoot it. I'm not
bashful because I can shoot no worse, you know."
It was another disappointment for Irish star Troy Murphy, who
has yet to take part in a win over the Orangemen. He finished with
19 points but only five rebounds against the tough Syracuse zone as
the Irish saw their four-game winning streak snapped despite
shooting 50 percent.
"It seems to happen every time we come up here," said Murphy,
whose jumper in the lane and lay-in moved Notre Dame within 60-59
with 6:09 left. "Somebody gets us."
On this night, that somebody also included Damone Brown, who had
26 points and 13 rebounds for the second straight game, matching
his career highs.
"I just wanted to go out there and play with aggressiveness,"
Brown said. "I tried to continue from the last game (against
Niagara). I think I did."
Ryan Humphrey had 18 points and 11 rebounds and Matt Carroll had
14 points for Notre Dame. David Graves, who was averaging 16.7
points for the Irish, finished with only five and fouled out in the
final two minutes.
"The one advantage that Syracuse has is their style of play,"
Notre Dame coach Mike Brey said. "It was a different type of game
to play against a big long zone for 40 minutes."
Preston Shumpert added 16 points for Syracuse and guard DeShaun
Williams matched Graves' futility. Williams, who was averaging 14.5
points, didn't score until he hit two free throws with 7:58
remaining and was 1-for-10 from the field. That helped hold
Syracuse to 41.2 percent shooting for the game.
"You saw signs of what we can do defensively," Brey said.
"But we have not done it long enough to beat a real good team
yet."
Despite the Irish's futility from 3-point range -- they came into
the game hitting 44 percent and were just 6-for-24 (25 percent)
against Syracuse -- the Orangemen were unable to shake free until
the end.
Still, Syracuse beat a ranked team for the second time in three
tries this season. That the Orangemen did so in the conference
opener was not lost on coach Jim Boeheim.
"It's always important," said Boeheim, whose Orangemen also
beat then-No. 21 DePaul in the Great Alaska Shootout before losing
at home to No. 6 Tennessee. "You've got 16 games and you've got to
win as many as you can. We've got two road games looking us in the
face. You want to play well at home and get that win."
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ALSO SEE
Men's College Basketball Scoreboard
Notre Dame Clubhouse
Syracuse Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Allen Griffin dashes Notre Dame's hopes by knocking down a three late in the game.
avi: 554 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Notre Dame's Ryan Humphrey rips the ball out of Allen Griffin's hands as he drives the lane.
avi: 731 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Syracuse big man Billy Celuck hits a jumper from way outside.
avi: 879 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Troy Murphy's block on Allen Griffin sets up a Notre Dame fast break.
avi: 831 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Preston Shumpert finishes the Syracuse transition with a big 3-pointer.
avi: 944 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Matt Carroll finds Ryan Humphrey for a Notre Dame dunk.
avi: 877 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Ryan Humphrey seems unstoppable, slamming home a Notre Dame miss.
avi: 774 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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