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SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Kyle McAlarney knew he would get some open looks playing against Syracuse's 2-3 zone defense.

He made the best of his chances Sunday, hitting 9-of-11 3-pointers to break the school record for 3s in a game, finishing with 30 points to lead the 21st-ranked Irish to a 94-87 victory over Syracuse.

McAlarney got started quickly, hitting his first 3 three minutes into the game, and following that up with a four-point play 50 seconds later. He later hit a 26-foot shot that gave the Irish a 32-25 lead.

"The bomb he hit got the whole thing started," Irish coach Mike Brey said. "I'm glad he took it. That's in his range. He can shoot that."

McAlarney began thinking about having a big game while shooting by himself at the Joyce Center on Saturday night, knowing Syracuse's zone would offer opportunities for him to shoot.

"I just took it when it was there," he said.

Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said the Orange didn't do a good job of keeping track of McAlarney.

McAlarney broke the school record of eight set by Keith Friel against Syracuse in 1998, matched by Matt Carroll against Syracuse in 2003, and matched twice by Colin Falls in 2005-06.

"I'm going to call Colin (Falls) up tonight and rub it in his face," McAlarney said.

Brey said it's no coincidence that two of the four players to set the previous record did so against Syracuse.

"All my guys I've had, when they see that zone, they start drooling. You almost need a towel to wipe their chin off because they can cut and move," he said.

Syracuse, which trailed by as many as 16 points in the second half, closed to 78-72 on Arinze Onuaku's slam dunk with 4:04 left, capping an 8-2 spurt where he scored six points. But Luke Harangody, who had 14 points and 14 rebounds, quickly scored a pair of baskets to help the Irish regain control.

Read the full report in Monday's edition of The Citizen.