The Players Era Thanksgiving Festival began as the exact opposite of a party for Notre Dame men’s basketball.

Notre Dame sophomore guard Markus Burton, the reigning ACC Rookie of the Year and first-team Preseason All-ACC selection, suffered an injury less than four minutes into Tuesday night’s game against Rutgers (4-1). MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas suffered a knee injury.

Burton, Notre Dame’s leading scorer this season with an average of 21.4 points in the first five games, scored on a drive to the basket when paired with Emmanuel Ogbole, a 6-foot-1, 220-pound shot heavy Rutgers striker, fell to the ground. fell with Burton and landed on his right leg. Burton limped to the sideline and appeared to go to the locker room with the Notre Dame training staff.

Later in the first half, Burton returned to the sidelines after being ruled out for the game, according to a report from Allie LaForce on the TBS television team. Burton’s knee is expected to undergo further evaluation after the game. Burton could be seen resting his right leg on a chair in front of him.

Notre Dame (4-1) responded well early without Burton, and fellow sophomore Braeden Shrewsberry stepped up with 12 points in the first half. The Irish led by as many as 10 points, but Rutgers made a run late in the first half and cut the lead to 35-34 at halftime.

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