Wed Feb 19 23:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Notre Dame’s High-Scoring Burton Leads Irish Against SMU in Rare Matchup

**SOUTH BEND, Ind. –** Notre Dame men’s basketball (11-14, 5-9 ACC) faces a pivotal matchup against the SMU Mustangs (time and network to be confirmed) in a rare clash at Purcell Pavilion. This will be only the fifth meeting between the two teams, with Notre Dame holding a 4-1 series lead. The game marks the first time the Mustangs have played in South Bend since 1989.

The Irish are looking to turn their season around in the final six games of the regular season, facing a challenging schedule that includes several projected NCAA Tournament teams. Leading the charge is sophomore guard Markus Burton, who is averaging an astounding 21.3 points per game, a figure that ranks fifth nationally and leads all sophomores. Excluding an injury-shortened game, his average jumps to 22.5 points per game, which would rank second nationally.

Burton has been on a tear since returning from a knee injury, scoring 20 or more points in 10 of his last 12 games, including a career-high 32 points against Boston College. His performance in ACC play is even more impressive, averaging a league-leading 22.9 points per game. He’s also closing in on 1,000 career points, a milestone that would cement his place among Notre Dame’s all-time greats.

Beyond Burton’s scoring prowess, his all-around game is exceptional. He averages a team-high 3.0 assists per game, and if those averages hold, he’ll become only the second Irish player to average 20+ points and 3+ assists in a season. His improved three-point shooting (38.9% this season compared to 30.0% last season) and 85.2% free-throw shooting are also key factors in his success.

Notre Dame’s success also hinges on the contributions of graduate transfer Matt Allocco, who boasts a program-record assist-to-turnover ratio and a career-high three-point shooting percentage that ranks second all-time in program history.

While the Irish have struggled with late-game collapses this season, their recent double-overtime victory against Boston College showcased their resilience and ability to overcome adversity. The team’s potent backcourt duo of Burton and Trey Shrewsberry (13.7 ppg) boast the highest combined scoring average in the ACC, and their “big three,” including Nate Laszewski, form the highest-scoring trio in the conference. The Irish hope to build on this momentum and make a strong push towards the ACC Tournament.

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