It came down to the final seconds with North Carolina narrowly edged Notre Dame 74-73 in a hard-fought battle at Purcell Pavilion in South Bend.
With multiple lead changes and key plays in the closing moments, both teams showcased determination and grit.
First Half:
North Carolina got off to a strong start, building a double-digit lead midway through the first half, leading by as much as 12 points at one stage. Ian Jackson was instrumental for the Tar Heels, dominating with 27 points overall and leading their offense. His shooting (11-18) and ability to get inside the Irish defense gave North Carolina a 39-32 lead at halftime. Despite trailing, Notre Dame stayed within striking distance, with standout performances from Markus Burton and Tae Davis, who combined for 17 first-half points.
Second Half:
The second half saw Notre Dame come alive, outscoring the Tar Heels 41-35. Notre Dame’s defense picked up, and the team gained momentum with a crucial 12-0 run that allowed them to take the lead for the first time in the game. Burton continued his stellar play, finishing with 23 points, 7-14 shooting, and 9-10 from the free-throw line. Brayden Shrewsberry also contributed significantly with 16 points, hitting four three-pointers.
The game remained a tight contest down the stretch, with Notre Dame holding a 73-70 lead with just 14 seconds remaining. However, North Carolina’s freshman guard Elliott Cadeau knocked down a critical three-pointer to tie the game with four seconds left. Notre Dame’s final possession saw a missed layup by Burton, allowing the Tar Heels to escape with a narrow one-point victory.
Key Players:
North Carolina: Ian Jackson (27 points, 6 rebounds), Elliott Cadeau (10 points, 6 assists), RJ Davis (8 points, 7 assists).
Notre Dame: Markus Burton (23 points, 2 assists), Tae Davis (17 points, 3 rebounds), Brayden Shrewsberry (16 points, 6 rebounds).
Key Stats:
Field Goal Percentage: UNC 52.9%, ND 43.9%
3-Point Percentage: UNC 28.6%, ND 30.4%
Rebounds: ND 32, UNC 30
Free Throws: ND 16-21 (76.2%), UNC 14-18 (77.8%)
Turnovers: Both teams had 13
Final Plays:
With 4 seconds left, Cadeau’s three-pointer tied the game, and he was fouled by Notre Dame's Matt Allocco on the next play, converting one free throw to give UNC the 74-73 lead. Burton’s final attempt at a game-winning layup missed, sealing the Irish's heartbreaking loss.
Takeaways:
Notre Dame showed great resilience in overcoming a first-half deficit and played strong defense in the second half. However, missed opportunities on key possessions and North Carolina’s timely shooting proved to be the difference. Despite the loss, Notre Dame demonstrated their potential with a balanced attack and solid team effort, setting the tone for future games.
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