SOUTH BEND, Ind. — In an electrifying match-up, Markus Burton achieved a personal best by scoring 43 points, and Matt Allocco seized the moment to hit a decisive 3-pointer during the fourth overtime, leading Notre Dame to a thrilling 112-110 victory over California on Saturday.
Having previously faced the threat of being left out of the ACC tournament, Notre Dame now has a chance to secure a finishing position as high as a tie for eighth place, dependent on outcomes of other games. Meanwhile, California stands the prospect of tying for 14th place.
Burton, who surpassed his former career peak of 32 points, fouled out with just 2 minutes and 40 seconds left in the fourth overtime period. It was then that Allocco became the offensive leader, acquiring eight points and ultimately sinking a 3-pointer to grant Notre Dame a 109-108 lead with a mere 15 seconds on the clock. The Irish defense responded by forcing Jeremiah Wilkerson of Cal into a turnover, enabling Cole Certa to sink two clutch free throws for Notre Dame.
With a slender lead of three points and four seconds left on the clock, Notre Dame fouled Spencer Mahoney from Cal, who efficiently converted both free-throw attempts. Consequently, Cal fouled Garrett Sundra, who hit his first free throw but missed the second, allowing time to run out and sealing Notre Dame’s victory.
Tensions rose as Cal equalized the game at 61 through DJ Campbell’s timely 3-pointer with 5 1/2 minutes left in regular play. They carried the momentum, seizing the lead as Maddy Sissoko delivered a slam dunk at the commencement of the first overtime. Burton responded with a significant 3-pointer, leveling the score at 79 with just 36 seconds left on the clock.
Burton went on to score seven points in the second overtime session, while Sissoko countered with two free throws, pushing the game into another overtime with an 88-88 score line.
In the third overtime, Allocco and Wilkinson swapped layups at crucial moments, leading to a 97-97 deadlock and necessitating a fourth overtime.
Allocco concluded the game with an impressive score of 24 points, while teammates J.R. Konieczny and Tae Davis contributed 13 and 12 points respectively for Notre Dame (14-17, 8-12). Notably, Nikita Konstantynovskyi was instrumental on defense, securing 17 rebounds.
For the Golden Bears (13-18, 6-14), freshman Jeremiah Wilkinson set a personal record with 36 points, complimented by Andrej Stojakovic’s 21-point contribution. Maddy Sissoko, demonstrating prowess on both ends, amassed 14 points and 13 rebounds. DJ Campbell and Javon Blacksher Jr. also made noteworthy contributions with 15 and 11 points respectively.
