Notre Dame falls to #9 Duke 57-43

Notre Dame lost to the #9 Duke 57-49.

Notre dame playing host to the #9 Duke Blue Devils.

The Fighting Irish ultimately falling short quite literally Notre Dame couldn’t buy a shot anywhere on the court Monday night.

The Blue Devils defense would just be too much in the end as the Irish lose this one at home.

Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski spoke highly of Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey and his defense.

Brey, a former assistant to Coach K, reciprocating the praises to Duke’s stout defense.

“They’ve been playing so well," Duke Men's basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "They’re old and together. But tonight we were able to defend them.”

“You’ve got to give credit to their defense," Notre Dame men's basketball coach Mike Brey said. "We missed a lot of layups early that made you want to believe. And then you’re digging out of a hole. But they’re hard to play against. They really took our three point shooters away. Then they have the shot blocker back when you turn the corner. And again defensively, 57 (points), against an explosive duke team I’m thinking we’re going to be alright. But they swarmed us.”

Duke's Paolo Banchero lead all scorers with 21 points. Paul Atkinson Jr. led the way for the Irish with 14 points.

The Fighting Irish are 14-7 on the season and are 7-3 in conference play, next for Notre Dame is a road trip to take on the Miami Hurricanes on February 2nd.