SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame men’s basketball team (6-3) secured the 2025 ACC/SEC challenge win 76-71 as they handed the Missouri Tigers (8-1) their first loss of the season late Tuesday night, all while remaining perfect at home, improving to 5-0 inside Purcell Pavilion.
The Fighting Irish battled back down 12, traded 11-0 runs in the second half, then provided the clutch shot at the end courtesy Cole Certa. The game had it all, including Markus Burton’s first career double-double with a team-high 18 points and a career best 10 assists.
Cole Certa converted three triples in the final 4:35, including the game-winner with 17 seconds left. The sophomore guard finished with 14 points.
Jalen Haralson was 5-7 on the night for 13 points, while also tallying four rebounds and two assists. Braeden Shrewsberry also poured in 11 points and 3 rebounds.
Notre Dame shot 12-24 in the second half, including 7-15 from beyond the arc. Both Burton and Certa had 11 points in the second half.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Notre Dame got off to a 10-4 start after five minutes of play. Jalen Haralson attacked the rim early with a dunk and layup, then Burton and Shrewsberry provided the deep threat from beyond the arc. They went into the timeout on an 8-0 run.
A Certa three-pointer kept the Irish ahead at 15-11, but soon after the Irish missed five consecutive triples. Add in the fact that Notre Dame then committed three turnovers in a 74-second span, resulting in a Tigers 7-0 run and an ND timeout at 8:17, down 19-26.
Fast forward to a minute left in the first half and Missouri’s Jacob Crews went on a solo 8-0 run to build their largest lead of the half, up 12. However, the Irish ended on a high note, firing off a quick 5-0 run after a Shrewsberry three and a steal and score from Burton.
Thus, at halftime, Notre Dame trailed 33-40. Turnovers proved costly for the Irish in the first half as Mizzou scored 15 points off 10 Notre Dame turnovers. Both teams struggled from three, as ND went 4-18 while Mizzou shot 3-13. Nine different Irish had scored at the midway point, with Burton leading the way with seven.
Notre Dame fed Jalen Haralson the ball to start the second half, and the freshman delivered, scoring seven of the team’s first nine points, cutting the deficit to two at 42-44 at 15:55.
Notre Dame’s first three-pointer of the second half arrived at 14:54, courtesy of Burton, which made it 45-46. Ninety seconds later, the extra pass from Burton found Shrewsberry for a three and the Irish found themselves back in the lead at 48-46. Out of the timeout, the extra pass from Burton again found Brady Koehler in the corner for the three. Next offensive possession, Burton took it to the rim himself for the score, 53-46 Irish.
Yet, just when you thought momentum was all on Notre Dame’s side, the Tigers counterpunched with an 11-0 run, benefitting from a nearly four-minute Irish scoring drought. ND now trailed 53-57 with 8:25 remaining.
Three straight Irish free throws brought Notre Dame within one, but Mizzou would answer with three straight from the charity stripe as well to make it a four-point game yet again at 56-60 with 6:15 left.
A Njie dunk made it a one-possession game, and when the Irish needed it most, a Certa three brought Purcell to their feet as he put Notre Dame back in front 61-60. At 4:05, the Tigers responded immediately with a 5-0 run to regain the lead 65-61.
Logan Imes punched back with a big-time three to bring the Irish back within one at 64-65, and with a Tiger turnover on the very next possession, the momentum was in favor of the Irish heading into the final media timeout at 2:30.
A pair of free throws extended the Mizzou lead, 67-64, but another Certa three in the deep right corner would tie it up at 67-all with 1:35 remaining.
Fouled with 53 seconds on the clock, Burton knocked down two free throws to put the Irish in front 69-67. On the next possession, the Tigers were fouled and matched with a pair of made free throws to tie it up yet again at 69-all with 44 seconds remaining.
Who other than hot-handed Certa to knock down another huge three on the assist from Burton to put Notre Dame in front 72-69 with 17 seconds left. Shortly after Burton was fouled on the fast break, knocking down another pair of free throws to make it a five-point game with 6 seconds on the clock.
Mizzou would have one last basket to make it 74-71, but would foul immediately after to send Shrewsberry to the line for one last pair of made free throws to cap off the 76-71 ACC/SEC victory.
UP NEXT
The Fighting Irish will hit the road for another major test in TCU. The Horned Frogs are 5-2 on the season and are coming off an impressive showing at the Rady Children’s Invitational, where they knocked off No. 10 Florida and defeated Wisconsin. A week prior they lost by just four points to a top-ranked Michigan squad.
Notre Dame and TCU will square off on Friday night at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
– ND –