Notre Dame ends 7-game skid by beating Virginia Tech

Field Level Media|published: Sat 10th February, 20:30 2024

Feb 10, 2024; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Carey Booth (0) dribbles the ball against Virginia Tech Hokies guard Tyler Nickel (23) in the first half at the Purcell Pavilion. credits: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Freshman Markus Burton had 16 points, eight assists and six steals as Notre Dame snapped a seven-game losing streak with Saturday's 74-66 ACC victory over Virginia Tech at South Bend, Ind.

Burton, from neighboring Mishawaka, Ind., matched a career high in assists and set his personal best in steals. The Fighting Irish (8-16, 3-10) shot 49.1 percent and overcame a nine-point first-half hole by holding Virginia Tech (13-10, 5-7) to 32.3 percent shooting in the second half.

Braeden Shrewsberry scored 12 points and Kebba Njie added 11 as Notre Dame prevailed for the first time since winning in overtime at Georgia Tech on Jan. 9.

Hunter Cattoor had 18 points for the Hokies, who shot 57.7 percent in the first half, including 6-of-11 from 3-point range. But they were 2-of-13 from distance in the second half and lost their third straight game.

With the game tied 51-51, Notre Dame scored nine consecutive points, highlighted by a 3-pointer from freshman reserve Logan Imes. Burton followed with a basket, then dished to Njie for a jam that put the Irish ahead 60-51 with 6:09 remaining. The Irish remained in control to snap a five-game ACC home skid.

Down nine, Notre Dame scored the final five points to trail 39-35 at halftime. It then registered the first nine points of the second half, keyed by back-to-back highlight-reel driving layups from Burton to go ahead 44-39.

The Hokies finally got going and tied it at 44-44 via Cattoor's 3-pointer. Things remained tight until the Irish managed to pull away thanks to Burton's overall play.

Each team shot better than 63 percent through the first 10 minutes of the contest. Notre Dame used an early 7-0 spurt to take a 3-point lead, before the game went back and forth.

Two free throws from Burton made it 30-28, but the Hokies scored the next 11 points to lead 39-30. Shrewsberry's trey with 1:06 remaining ended that lengthy Hokies run, and Burton followed with another basket to leave the Irish trailing by four at the break.

—Field Level Media