Syracuse, N.Y. — The Syracuse Orange secured a much-needed victory with an 86-72 win over Notre Dame on Saturday at the JMA Wireless Dome. This triumph snapped Syracuse’s four-game losing streak and helped the team avoid its first five-game skid since the 1968-69 season.
Leading the charge for Syracuse was Nate Kingz, who scored a season-high 28 points, surpassing his previous best of 27 points set two weeks ago in a loss at Boston College. JJ Starling also made a significant impact, contributing 21 points, with 17 of those coming in the first half.
With the win, Syracuse improved its overall record to 13-9 and moved to 4-5 in ACC play. A loss would have marked the start of a challenging five-game road trip, including matchups at North Carolina and Virginia, while carrying a five-game losing streak. On the other hand, Notre Dame fell to 11-11 on the season and 2-7 in conference play.
Notably, Donnie Freeman, Syracuse’s leading scorer this season, was not in the starting lineup. Although Freeman was not injured, no official explanation was provided prior to the game for this decision. Freshman Sadiq White, a 6-foot-9 forward who previously started 10 games while Freeman was sidelined with a foot injury, took Freeman’s starting spot. Freeman eventually finished with 7 points and 5 rebounds.
Syracuse maintained a comfortable lead through most of the game, despite a late push from Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish closed the gap to 66-60 following a 3-pointer by Cole Certa with seven minutes remaining. Kingz immediately quelled the rally with a crucial 3-pointer—his fifth of the night. He then stole the ball from Braeden Shrewsberry, sparking a fastbreak that resulted in Sadiq White being fouled. This sequence ignited a 9-0 run that effectively sealed the game for Syracuse.
Even without Freeman in the starting lineup, the Orange got off to a strong start. They made six of their first nine 3-point attempts, building a 28-16 lead. Syracuse carried that momentum into halftime, holding a 40-31 lead thanks to an impressive 61 percent shooting from the field.
Starling was especially dominant in the first half, scoring 17 points on perfect shooting—making all seven of his field goal attempts, including three 3-pointers. Meanwhile, Freeman saw limited time in the first half, playing just seven minutes. After scoring his first basket, he quickly picked up his second foul and returned to the bench, visibly frustrated.
The win marked a crucial turning point for Syracuse as they prepare for upcoming conference challenges.
https://www.syracuse.com/orangebasketball/2026/02/syracuse-halts-4-game-losing-streak-with-win-over-notre-dame.html