SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Nothing but love and buckets from Cole Certa on Valentine’s Day, as the sophomore sharpshooter dropped a career high 37 points in Notre Dame’s 89-74 win over Georgia Tech. The Fighting Irish (12-14, 3-10) picked up a pivotal victory in their bid to make the ACC Tournament. They also earned their 12th straight win at home in the all-time series against the Yellow Jackets (11-15, 2-11).
Notre Dame has now recorded at least 79 points in three straight games. Furthermore, ND’s 89 points were the most in a regulation ACC game since they scored 90 vs. Georgia Tech on Feb. 26, 2022.
The Irish, who were outrebounded 17-15 in the first half, absolutely dominated in the second half, where it was 21-6, ND.
Cole Certa’s 37 points tied Matt Farrell for the second most ever in an ACC game, trailing only Markus Burton’s 43 points against Cal a season ago. The sophomore is now on a career best four game double-digit scoring streak. It also marked his second game of 30+ this season.
Certa drained a career-best seven threes, finishing 7-11. He was 12-20 from the field overall. Certa dropped 21 points in the first half, marking the first time an Irish player has done so since Markus Burton’s 22 at Syracuse on Jan. 18, 2025.
Braeden Shrewsberry netted his fourth 20-point game of the season with 20 exactly on Saturday. The junior made 4-8 from three to go along with his team high four assists.
Shrewsberry and Certa have now combined for 50 made threes over the last six games.
Up next, Logan Imes received the start today in place of the injured Jalen Haralson and delivered with a career high 14 points, plus a career best nine rebounds. Imes shot 6-12 from the field and dished out three assists.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Logan Imes contributed right off the bat with a three while Braeden Shrewsberry joined him shortly after to help garner a 10-8 lead at the first media. Soon after, five straight points from Certa and a Shrewsberry three made it a 16-10 game at 12:12.
With the Yellow Jackets going on a quick 6-0 run to tie it up, Shrewsberry knocked down his third triple of the day to put the Irish back in front at 19-16 with just under 10 minutes remaining in the half.
Another eight points from Certa and a finish at the rim from Imes kept the Irish in front at 28-20. The duo of Shrewsberry and Certa combined for 24 points already, outscoring Georgia Tech in the first 13 minutes of play.
Koehler and Towt got in on the scoring action with the Irish shooting 7-of-9 from the floor over the 3.5 minute period.
The hot hand continued for the Irish, closing out the half shooting 10-of-16 with another triple from Shrewsberry and eight more points for Cetra. Notre Dame led 45-33 at halftime.
Certa led all players with 21 points, shooting an impressive 7-11 from the floor (63.6%) and 5-6 from three (83.3%). Shrewsberry followed with 14 points on 4-7 shooting from deep (57%).
The Irish shot 42.9 percent from the floor on 15-35 shooting and knocked down 11 triples in the first half on just 19 attempts at a scorching clip of 57.9 percent. While the Yellow Jackets were shooting 12-24 from the floor (50.0%), the Irish held them to just 3-13 from three (23.1%).
Shrewsberry, Imes and Towt produced an 8-2 start to the second half to build an 18-point lead, prompting a Georgia Tech timeout at 15:53. Next, baskets from Sundra, Imes and Towt kept the Irish at a comfortable lead with 11:40 to play, up 59-43. Then an Imes corner three at 10:38 gave the junior a career high in points.
A Towt dunk followed by an active Towt on the offensive glass with a putback score brought the Irish fans to their feet, up 68-44 with eight minutes to play.
Who other than Certa to score the next 12 straight points for Notre Dame, making it 80-59 with 3:02 remaining.
The Yellow Jackets knocked down five threes in the final three minutes of play, but scoring from Shrewsberry, Mohammed, and Sundra kept the Irish in front for the 15-point win of 89-74 over Georgia Tech.
UP NEXT
Notre Dame will have a mid-week bye to rest up before having to make a Saturday trek to Pittsburgh. The Irish and Panthers will tip off at 2 p.m. ET on the ACC Network.
– ND –