Notre Dame Hangs on to Win a Thriller in OT
Brett Davis | Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Tonight the Fighting Irish (6-9, 1-3) hit the road and faced the Georgie Tech Yellow Jackets (8-6, 1-2) in Atlanta. As we approached tonight’s game, Notre Dame held a narrow 15-13 lead against the Yellow Jackets. Historically, these two teams have demonstrated a remarkably balanced competition. Curious about Notre Dame’s performance against Georgia Tech tonight? Let’s delve into the details!
First Half
Georgia Tech got the ball first and couldn’t convert on their first possession. Notre Dame got the rebound and also couldn’t convert on their first possession. Georgia Tech then scored first on a jumper by Baye Ndongo, and Notre Dame answered quickly with a layup by Carey Booth. 2-2
Georgia Tech went to the other end of the court and Ndongo sank a three point jumper. Tae Davis missed a jumper, followed by GT’s Miles Kelly making a three point jumper. Markus Burton got his first points on a jump shot to narrow GT’s lead to one.
Ebenezer Dowuona sank a layup to increase their lead back to three, and GT has been very aggressive in the opening minutes of this game. 7-4, GT, 15:38 timeout.
Coming out of the break Booth missed a three point jumper, followed by Braeden Shrewsberry sinking a three point jumper, showing him how it’s done. GT answered with a three point jumper of their own, sunk by Kowacie Reeves Jr. 9-7, GT
Julian Roper fouled Baye Ndongo who went to the foul line and made one of his two free throw shots. On ND’s next possession Markus Burton wasted no time and sank his first three point jumper. Davis got the defensive rebound on the GT possession, and Shrewsberry sank his second three point shot, assisted by Burton. Tafara Gapare missed a jumper for GT, and Kebba Njie got the rebound. ND will get the ball after the 11:47 timeout. 13-10, ND
Coming out of the break play was stopped because Roper’s shoe came off. Roper then missed a three point jumper, and GT got the ball (currently on a three minute scoring drought). Naithan George missed a jumper, and then the two teams traded some fouls back and forth. GT finally ended their scoring drought on a dunk by Baye Ndongo. 13-12, ND
Ndongo then made a two point jumper, and GT went ahead by one point. Notre Dame turned the ball over on their next possession and Miles Kelly sank a three point jumper on GT’s next possession. 17-13, GT
Tae Davis made a layup, ending GT’s 7-0 run, shrinking GT’s lead to two. Ndongo missed a jumper and Kebba Njie got the defensive rebound, which Carey Booth turned into points on a layup. This was quickly answered by a Naithan George three point shot. And ND fired right back, with a three point jumper by JR Konieczny. 20-20, 6:13 timeout
Coming out of the break ND turned the ball over and Shrewsberry fouled Kowacie Reeves JR who made both of his free throw shots. Burton missed his layup at the other end and Njie turned the ball over which turned into a Reeves Jr layup. 24-20, GT
Roper missed his three point jumper and GT got the ball and turned it into more points on a Miles Kelly three point jumper. Notre Dame took a timeout to get the boys settled down. 27-20, GT, 4:53 left in the half.
With renewed focus Tae Davis came out and sank a jumper, quickly responded to by GT with a Dallan Coleman layup. On ND’s next possession Davis made a statement dunk, cutting GT’s lead to five, 29-24 GT. 3:39 official TV timeout.
After the break Kebba Njie sank a dunk of his own, and now GT’s lead is only three. Reeves Jr missed a three point shot, and ND got the rebound and Burton sank his jumper, shrinking the GT lead to one. Coleman missed his three point shot, and Shrewsberry showed him how it’s done sinking his. 31-29, ND
In the last minute Tae Davis missed a three point jumper, Markus Burton missed a jumper, and Notre Dame goes into half time up by two points. 31-29
Second Half
GT got on the board right away with a Reeves Jr three point shot. Buckle up, kids. Ndongo then stole the ball from ND and Naithan George sank his jumper and drew the foul. George missed his foul shot, but Dowuona got the rebound. Reeves Jr missed a jumper and Tae Davis got the rebound. On ND’s possession Konieczny got fouled and made one of his two fouls shots.
Reeves Jr got the rebound, Ndongo missed his jumper, and Davis got the rebound and sank his layup. Roper stole the ball from GT and sank his layup. Roper got fouled and made his free throw, followed by a George jumper. Just a flurry of activity. 37-36, ND
Roper was fouled by Tyzhaun Claude, sending Roper to the line who made both of his foul shots. Naithan George turned the ball over on GT’s next possession and JR Konieczny sank a beautiful dunk at the other end of the court. Georgia Tech timeout, 16:31
Kelly missed a three point shot, followed by Shrewsberry missing a three point shot, and finally ND scores on a Davis layup. GT answered quickly with a Kelly three point jumper (his fourth three point shot of the night). 43-39 ND, 15:07 timeout
Georgia Tech had the ball coming out of the break and ND got the rebound. Burton missed his jumper and GT got the rebound. Tafara Gapare missed his three point shot and Booth got the rebound. ND converted their possession into points on a perfect Shrewsberry floater. 45-39, ND
Booth turned the ball over, stolen by Coleman, and Kelly sank a three point shot at the other end. Konieczny got his jumper to drop, and GT loudly answered with a Coleman three point shot. ND’s lead is now cut to two, 47-45 ND
Zona missed a three point shot and Ndongo got the rebound. Reeves missed his three point shot and Burton got the rebound, and Shrewsberry turned the possession into points with a jumper. 49-45, ND
Kelly snuck inside and made a dunk, and the ND lead is only two. Kelly got the foul and they went to a TV timeout, 9:42 remaining in the half. 49-47, ND
Kebba Njie turned the ball over and Naithan George got the steal. Kelly sank a three point shot on GT’s next possession and GT went up by one point. ND turned the ball over on their next possession and GT converted the opportunity into more points on a Claude layup. 52-49, GT (7:45 timeout)
Kebba Njie went to the line after the break and made both of his foul shots, cutting GT’s lead to one. George missed his three point shot and ND got the rebound.
Ndongo got the scoring going again with a jumper, followed by a Shrewsberry three point shot, quickly answered by a Kelly three point shot. Shrewsberry is fouled and went to the line where he made both of his free throw shots. 57-56, GT
Kelly missed a jumper and Shrewsberry got the rebound. Njie missed his jumper and drew the foul. Njie made both of his free throw shots to put ND up by one. Coleman missed his jumper and ND got the rebound. Burton missed his jumper and GT got the rebound and turned it into points on a Ndongo layup. 59-58, GT
Notre Dame responded with a Burton jumper, which GT followed with a Ndongo dunk. These two teams are going punch for punch. Shrewsberry missed a three point jumper, and we go to an official TV timeout. 1:40 remaining in the half. 61-60, GT
Davis fouled Kelly who missed his foul shot and ND’s Njie got the rebound. Notre Dame timeout.
Shrewsberry sank a deep three point shot and the Irish go up by two points. Georgia Tech timeout. 63-61, ND
GT turned the ball over on a Roper steal. Burton missed a layup, but ND got the rebound. Kelly fouled Burton who went to the line and made one of his two free throw shots. GT got the rebound and Kelly made a layup at the other end. Georgia Tech timeout. 64-63, ND
Notre Dame inbounded and Shrewsberry was fouled. Shrewsberry made both of his free throw shots, putting ND up by three points. On GT’s possession Ndongo made an epic three point shot to tie the game at 66. Notre Dame timeout (5.5 seconds left in the game).
Burton missed the winning shot and we go to Overtime.
OT
ND got the ball first but Burton turned it over. Ndongo missed his jumper and ND got the rebound. Konieczny missed his jumper but ND gets the rebound and Roper lit it up with a three point shot. ND up by three. 69-66, ND
Coleman missed his three point shot and ND got the rebound. Shrewsberry lost the ball but the officials said it bounced off a GT player and ND kept the ball, Shrewsberry then missed a three point shot but ND got the ball back. Reeves stole the ball from Burton and George sank a jumper at the other end. 69-68, ND (2:43)
Shrewsberry is fouled by Reeves Jr and went to the line where he made both of his free throw shots. 71-68, ND
Kelly missed a three point jumper and GT got the rebound. Reeves Jr turned the ball over but Shrewsberry bounced out of the rim and GT got the rebound. Kelly missed a three point jumper and Konieczny got the rebound. Burton missed his jumper and GT got the rebound, Kelly missed his three point shot and ND got the rebound. GT fouled Burton who made both of his free throw shots. 73-68, ND.
Georgia Tech timeout, 13 seconds left in the game.
GT inbounded and George tried for a three point shot and missed. Coleman fouled Konieczny who went to the line and made both of his free throw shots. Notre Dame wins by a score of 75-68.
Notre Dame’s next game is back home at Purcell Pavilion on Saturday, January 13th, versus Florida State. Tip off is at 2:15pm ET.
Cheers & GO IRISH!
