If you were looking for a high-octane ACC showdown at Purcell Pavilion tonight, you certainly got one, though maybe not with the result South Bend was hoping for. The final score of the Notre Dame game today saw the Fighting Irish fall to the Miami Hurricanes, 81-69.
It was a tale of two halves. Honestly, for the first twenty minutes, it felt like Micah Shrewsberry’s squad had finally found that defensive rhythm they’ve been searching for. The game was deadlocked at 39-39 at the break. But then, the wheels kinda came off.
The Second Half Surge That Buried the Irish
Everything changed in the first four minutes of the second half. Miami came out of the locker room looking like a completely different team, or maybe Notre Dame just forgot to close out on the perimeter. The Hurricanes ignited a 13-1 scoring run immediately after the restart.
Suddenly, a tight game turned into a double-digit deficit that the Irish just couldn't claw back from.
Tre Donaldson was a massive problem for the Notre Dame backcourt all night. He finished with 23 points, seemingly getting to his spots at will. But it wasn't just the scoring. Malik Reneau was a monster inside, tallying a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. He also chipped in five steals, which tells you everything you need to know about the Irish's ball security tonight.
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Breaking Down the Numbers
- Notre Dame Total Turnovers: 18
- Points Off Turnovers for Miami: 19
- Points in the Paint: Miami 40, Notre Dame 28
You've got to protect the ball against a team as athletic as Miami. You just do. Giving up 19 points off mistakes is essentially handing the game over on a silver platter.
Bright Spots in a Tough Loss
It wasn't all doom and gloom in South Bend. Jalen Haralson continues to be the most consistent bright spot on this roster. He put up 18 points on 6-of-13 shooting, marking his 14th consecutive game in double figures. That kid is the real deal.
Sir Mohammed also stepped up in a big way off the bench. He dropped 15 points and looked aggressive, which is exactly what Shrewsberry has been asking for. At one point in the first half, Mohammed scored nine straight points to keep the Irish in striking distance.
Logan Imes also deserve a shoutout for his work on the glass. He tied his career high with eight rebounds. In fact, Notre Dame actually won the rebounding battle 35-28, which is a rare feat against a Miami team that usually dominates the boards.
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Why the Score of Notre Dame Game Today Matters for the Season
This loss drops Notre Dame to 10-7 overall and a concerning 1-3 in ACC play. It’s their fourth loss in the last five games. The "rebuilding" label only buys so much patience when you're playing at home in front of 5,278 fans.
Coach Shrewsberry noted in the post-game presser that the turnovers were "aggressive mistakes" and mostly came from poor decision-making in the paint. He specifically mentioned the absence of Markus Burton’s ability to draw help and create space. Without that gravity in the middle, the Irish offense often looked stagnant when the initial play broke down.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Result
A lot of casual observers will look at the 12-point margin and think it was a blowout. It wasn't. It was a dogfight for 25 minutes.
The Irish actually fought back to within seven points with about nine minutes left after a Carson Towt putback slam. The energy in the building was electric for a second there. But then Miami did what veteran teams do: they hit a dagger three, forced a turnover, and pushed the lead back to double digits within sixty seconds.
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Looking Ahead
The schedule doesn't get any easier. The Irish have to hit the road now for a two-game swing.
- At Virginia Tech: Saturday, Jan 17 at 12:00 PM ET.
- At North Carolina: Wednesday, Jan 21 at 7:00 PM ET.
Blacksburg is always a tough place to play, and Chapel Hill is... well, it’s Chapel Hill. If Notre Dame doesn't find a way to cut those 18 turnovers down to 10 or 11, the ACC gauntlet is going to be very long.
Actionable Next Steps for Irish Fans:
If you're tracking the team's progress, keep a close eye on the "Points Off Turnovers" stat in the next box score against Virginia Tech. That is the single biggest indicator of whether this team is learning from the Miami loss. Also, watch the rotation; with Mohammed playing this well, expect him to see an uptick in minutes as Shrewsberry looks for more offensive spark.