In a tale of two halves, the Notre Dame men’s basketball team rallied from a 19-point halftime deficit but ultimately fell short in an 86-75 loss to Georgia Tech on Tuesday afternoon. Despite an improved second-half performance, the Fighting Irish (7-6, 1-1 ACC) couldn’t complete the comeback against the Yellow Jackets (7-7, 1-2 ACC).
Notre Dame’s first half was one to forget, as the team shot a season-low 28.1% from the field and trailed 43-24 at halftime. Georgia Tech capitalized on the Irish struggles, shooting 60.7% and scoring 22 points in the paint before the break.
The second half told a different story, with the Irish shooting 60% from the field and cutting the deficit to three points with just under six minutes to play. However, a decisive 10-2 run led by Georgia Tech’s Lance Terry pushed the Yellow Jackets’ lead back to double digits, sealing the victory.
Key Performers:
- Tae Davis tied his career high with 27 points, including 22 in the second half, while adding seven rebounds and three assists. Davis has now scored 20+ points in three consecutive games.
- Braeden Shrewsberry scored all 12 of his points in the second half, shooting 4-for-6 from three-point range.
- Matt Allocco added 15 points, tying his season-high with seven assists. Over his last three games, Allocco has dished out 18 assists.
Game Highlights
Notre Dame took an early 12-11 lead midway through the first half, but Georgia Tech responded with a 17-4 run and closed the half with a surge to build a commanding lead.
The Irish came out strong after the break, sparked by Davis and Shrewsberry. An 11-0 run midway through the second half brought the Irish within five points at 62-67. A dunk by Kebba Njie and a jumper from Allocco cut the deficit to three, but the Irish couldn’t overcome Terry’s late-game heroics.
Next Up
Notre Dame returns to Purcell Pavilion on Saturday, January 4, for a sold-out showdown against the North Carolina Tar Heels. Tip-off is set for Noon ET on CBS. The game marks the second of four “Irish Wear Green” events this season.
