The Players Era Festival in Las Vegas was always going to be a tough challenge for Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish were slated to face Rutgers and Houston, with a third game against an opponent to be determined after Wednesday's matchups.

Notre Dame men's basketball and Rutgers renewed their Big East rivalry in the first round of the new Players Era Festival tournament in Las Vegas

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights (4-1) battle the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-1) Tuesday night in the Players Era Festival. Tip-off from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas is scheduled for 10:30 p.m.

The Notre Dame men's basketball team will remember its first game of the Players Era Festival for a lot of reasons. Unfortunately, it won't be for a victory it lost an 85-84 overtime thriller to Rutgers in Las Vegas.

First, let’s give Notre Dame extra credit: the Irish lost Markus Burton early in the game - he scored just two points - and still took Rutgers to the wire. Matt Alloco scored 24

Notre Dame men's basketball lost Markus Burton early, but that was no reason to give up or give in against Rutgers. The Irish almost figured a way out

Disaster struck for Notre Dame only a few minutes into its Players Era Festival opener against Rutgers in Las Vegas. As standout guard Markus Burton drove to the basket for a short field goal, he fell down,

The team fought valiantly without their best player for most of the game, but ultimately didn’t have enough firepower to hang with Dylan Harper and the Scarlet Knights