Notre Dame Triumphs Over Georgia Tech
SOUTH BEND, Indiana (AP) — In a stunning display of skill, Cole Certa posted a personal best of 37 points on Saturday, leading Notre Dame to an 89-74 victory over Georgia Tech, thus breaking a five-game losing streak. Certa’s remarkable performance featured seven successful 3-pointers out of 11 attempts, contributing significantly to his overall shooting accuracy of 60% from the field, as he made 12 of 20 shots. He also excelled at the free-throw line, completing all six attempts.
This game marks the sophomore player’s second time scoring over 30 points, following a previous tally of 34 against Virginia just five games prior. Certa has an average of 10.9 points per game, with only one other occasion of reaching at least 20 points this season.
Game Highlights
The Fighting Irish surged in the second half, hitting their first four shots to widen their lead from 12 at halftime to 53-35. Certa showcased an impressive stretch, scoring 12 consecutive points for his team, which pushed Notre Dame’s advantage to 80-59 with just three minutes left in the game. In the closing moments, they solidified their lead by scoring their final 11 points from the free-throw line.
Supporting Certa’s outstanding performance, Braeden Shrewsberry contributed with 20 points, while Logan Imes added another 14 for Notre Dame (12-14, 3-10 ACC). Both Imes and Carson Towt were impactful on the boards, each grabbing nine rebounds.
On the opposing side, Baye Ndongo shone for Georgia Tech (11-15, 2-11), recording a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Kowacie Reeves Jr. and Jaeden Mustaf chipped in 16 and 14 points, respectively, while Akai Fleming added 13.
Shooting Performance
Notre Dame’s shooting was on point, extending to a total of 14 made 3-pointers throughout the game, and they capitalized on their strong first half performance, leading 45-33 at halftime. Georgia Tech managed to hit 11 of their 30 attempts from beyond the arc.
Historical Context and Future Matches
This victory marked Notre Dame’s 12th consecutive win at home against Georgia Tech, enhancing their lead in the all-time series to 20-14. Unfortunately for the Yellow Jackets, this loss extended their losing streak to six games.
Looking ahead, Georgia Tech will return home for a matchup against No. 15 Virginia on Wednesday, while Notre Dame is set to face off against Pitt this Saturday.
