In a hard-fought battle at Purcell Pavilion, Notre Dame (10-10, 4-5 ACC) held off Georgia Tech (9-12, 3-7 ACC) 71-68 in a game that came down to the final moments. The Fighting Irish, led by Markus Burton’s 26-point performance, overcame a second-half deficit to secure the victory.
The game was neck-and-neck throughout, with both teams locked at 37 at halftime. Georgia Tech's Naithan George paced the Yellow Jackets with 20 points and five assists, while Dallan “Deebo” Coleman added 18 points, including a clutch layup at the buzzer that finalized the score.
Notre Dame’s shooting from beyond the arc proved to be a difference-maker, as the Irish knocked down 10 three-pointers at a 43.5% clip, compared to Georgia Tech’s five threes on 31.3% shooting. While the Yellow Jackets were more efficient overall from the field (49.1% to Notre Dame’s 47.2%), the Irish capitalized on second-chance opportunities, outscoring Georgia Tech 13-8 in that category.
Burton was electric, going 9-of-17 from the floor, while Braeden Shrewsberry contributed 15 points, including a crucial free throw in the closing seconds. Kebba Njie controlled the glass with a game-high nine rebounds, helping Notre Dame win the rebounding battle 32-29.
A pivotal 13-0 second-half run gave the Irish control late, though Georgia Tech remained within striking distance. The Jackets briefly took the lead at 62-61 with 2:25 remaining, but Notre Dame responded with a surge, taking its largest lead of six points (70-64) with just 11 seconds left.
Despite a furious final push from Georgia Tech, Notre Dame’s composure at the line and defensive execution sealed the win. The victory marks an important step forward for the Irish as they head into February.
Check out Len Clark's full analysis on the Len Zone!