Allocco the X Factor in 4OT Win Over Cal

By Justin O’Neal

On Saturday, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish men’s basketball team celebrated a senior night victory against the University of California Golden Bears, winning 112-110 after four overtime periods. The Irish seniors were determined to win their final game in Purcell Pavilion and head into the ACC tournament with momentum. “This was a playmaker’s game,” said Glenn & Stacey Murphy Head Men’s Basketball Coach Coach Micah Shewsberry during the post game press conference. Being that it was senior night, it was fitting that one of those playmakers was senior guard Matt Allocco. Allocco strung together eight straight points by himself in the fourth overtime, creating the final lead change that allowed him and the rest of his fellow seniors to leave with one last home win. 

Markus Burton had poured in a Notre Dame ACC game record 43 points and was red-hot going into the fourth overtime, but was whistled for his fifth foul and had to leave the game. The situation was dire, as Notre Dame was now trailing by four points without its most dynamic scorer. Adversity had struck, but the game was far from over. It was time for Allocco to leave his mark. 

After a layup by senior big man Nikita Konstantynovskyi, Notre Dame trailed by two. The next possession, the Irish forced a stop, then pushed in transition after a long rebound. Cal did a good job stopping the ball in transition, but Allocco trailed the play, and the ball was swung to him at the top of the key. He took one rhythm dribble before burying a pull up three pointer over a late defender to take the lead 104-103. 

Despite the thrilling play, the crowd was silenced as Cal knocked down a three of its own on the very next possession to take a 106-104 lead. After a long possession, Allocco had the ball on the right wing with a dwindling shot clock. Driving hard towards the baseline, he stopped on both feet before shooting a fadeaway jump shot over two defenders. The shot was nothing but net, and the score was now tied up at 106 with under a minute remaining.

The crowd was on their feet once again as Notre Dame looked to get this crucial stop. The Irish had defended Cal’s initial action well, but a nifty hesitation move freed up the Cal guard as he drove towards the rim. Notre Dame was forced to react, and Cal’s guard smartly dumped it off to his big man who flushed a powerful dunk. Cal now led 108-106 with just 35 seconds remaining.

After the last two offensive possessions for Notre Dame, everyone in the arena knew who was going to have the ball in this crucial situation. Allocco had the ball at the top of the key and dribbled to his right off of a screen. Cal hedged the screen, meaning the screener’s defender lifted up the floor to force Alloco away from the basket so that Allocco’s initial defender would have time to evade the screen. However, they were unsuccessful as Allocco quickly evaded the screener’s defender and found himself all alone on the right wing. Clearly in rhythm, Allocco pulled up for three and buried it. The crowd boomed as Notre Dame re-took the lead 109-108 with 15 seconds remaining. 

“I think I speak for everyone when I say that we were not going to play another (overtime),” Allocco told the media after the game. “We kept grinding, staying in the moment, never lost confidence and never had any fear.” 

Allocco’s key three pointer ended up being the final lead change as the Irish were able to force a turnover on the next possession and knock in a few free throws to seal the victory 112-110.

Allocco made timely buckets throughout the game, but he truly found his rhythm when it mattered the most. He finished with 24 points, 14 of which coming in the overtime periods. On the season, he is shooting a remarkable 45% from three. 

“I felt the confidence from my teammates and inspiration from (Markus),” Allocco said. “I am unbelievably proud of everyone.”

Notre Dame will look to build off this thrilling victory as they face off against the Pittsburgh Panthers this Tuesday in the first round of the ACC tournament. 

Justin O’Neal is a student assistant with the Notre Dame Athletics Communications Office in 2024-25 and is a senior at Holy Cross College, where he is a member of the school’s men’s basketball program.

— ND —