HOW IT HAPPENED
The game started fast and furious, with both Notre Dame and Villanova draining three triples each before the first media timeout. Four of the Irish starters recorded buckets at the 15:08 timeout, as ND trailed just 13-11.
Braeden Shrewsberry scored five straight points out of the timeout, but Villanova countered with a 9-0 run to take a 22-16 lead. The Wildcat run consisted of a successful three-pointer into an upgraded foul that resulted in two made free throws; then Villanova executed on the ensuing possession.
Next, Brady Koehler recorded a steal and converted on the breakaway, but Nova countered with a three, extending their offensive flurry into a 12-2 scoring run, which put the Irish down 25-18. Villanova started the game 5-for-8 from three-point range.
Notre Dame’s offense stalled as they couldn’t get shots to fall, recording a 3-for-13 stretch from 12:50-7:30. The Irish hung around with some tough defense, already recording nine steals in the game. In addition, they held the Wildcats without a field goal for a 3:26 stretch.
With 3:34 remaining in the half, the Irish trailed 33-26, netting just 10 points in the last eight minutes.
With a pair of free throws from Ethan Roberts and a tough finish at the rim from Tommy Ahneman, the Irish brought it within two to make it 33-31 with just under 40 seconds left in the half.
Villanova would close it out with a made jump shot and a stop on the defensive end to make it 35-31 at halftime.
Notre Dame shot 11-of-32 (34.4%) in the half compared to Villanova’s 12-of-26 (46.2%). The Irish forced a total of 15 Wildcat turnovers, which they converted into 12 points. The Irish also tallied 10 steals.
Brady Koehler and Logan Duncomb picked up their third fouls in the opening minutes of the second half, while Villanova’s Tyler Perkins caught fire with three triples. The Wildcats ultimately built a 10-point lead at the 16:23 mark.
Braeden Smith and Braeden Shrewsberry combined for a quick five-point flurry before the under-12 media timeout, but Villanova’s Jake Fiegen traded punch for punch with five points of his own, as ND trailed 54-45 with 11:46 left.
For the next four minutes, the Irish never allowed the deficit to grow more than 10 but couldn’t cut it below six either.
Fast forward to the 7:26 mark and Brady Koehler connected on a huge three to inch closer at 62-58. The Irish were getting stops, but couldn’t take advantage as Koehler’s bucket was in the middle of a 1-for-9 shooting stretch.
With just under five minutes remaining, Braeden Smith went to the line and made both free throws, making it a one-possession game, down 62-60.
Next, Villanova’s Elijah Crawford silenced the Notre Dame fans on their feet with back-to-back driving layups, extending the Wildcat lead back to six.
Out of the final media timeout, Smith would sink three straight free throws to make it a 66-63 ballgame. Bringing the Irish crowd back to their feet, Roberts' finish at the rim made it just a one-point game at 66-65.
Villanova responded with a pair of made free throws, extending their lead to three, but it would be one again. Looking to score in transition, Koehler slammed it down with 1:36 left on the clock as his dunk made it 68-67.
Forcing the turnover, Smith’s steal at the defensive end immediately led to a made three from Duncomb. Notre Dame claimed a 70-68 lead in the process.
On the defensive end, Koehler recorded a block on a corner three-point attempt as Smith collected the rebound and called a timeout. Soon after, Smith went to the line and made both, making it a 7-0 run and a four-point Irish lead.
Next, Nova got fouled and converted both, moving the score to 72-70 with 19.1 seconds left.
Shrewsberry then got fouled three seconds into the next possession and went to the line, missing the front end of the 1-and-1. Villanova pushed it quickly down the court but missed its mid-range jumper, as Koehler reeled in the rebound.
Immediately fouled, Koehler converted the game-clinching free throws. The Wildcats were held without a field goal over the final 3:37 until their buzzer-beater, as the Irish took it 74-72.
