Virginia's trip to Purcell Pavilion was a challenging test, but the Cavaliers ultimately emerged victorious, defeating Notre Dame 100-97 in a game that saw both teams give it their all. Despite being predicted to win by 8.5 points by CHD Scout, Virginia found themselves in a nail-biter, with the final margin being just three points. The prediction proved correct, however, as the Cavaliers secured the win, albeit in a much closer contest than anticipated.
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with Notre Dame taking a 44-35 lead into halftime. Cole Certa was unstoppable for the Fighting Irish, scoring 34 points to lead all players. However, Virginia's Thijs De Ridder was equally impressive, tallying 32 points and 8 rebounds to pace the Cavaliers. De Ridder's performance was crucial in the second half, as Virginia outscored Notre Dame 38-29 to take a slim lead into the overtime periods.
Notre Dame refused to back down, with Jalen Haralson and Braeden Shrewsberry contributing 20 and 18 points, respectively. The Fighting Irish pushed the game to two overtime periods, but ultimately fell just short. Virginia's Sam Lewis was also instrumental in the win, recording 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists.
CHD Scout Report Card
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Final
The game was marked by intense moments, with both teams making big plays late. In the end, Virginia's depth and resilience was the difference, as they outlasted Notre Dame in the second overtime period. Chance Mallory added 17 points for the Cavaliers, helping to seal the win.
This victory marks a significant Quadrant 2 win for Virginia, who improved to 17-3 on the season. For Notre Dame, the loss drops them to 11-10, but the game will still be considered a valuable Quadrant 1 contest. The Fighting Irish can take solace in the fact that they pushed a top-15 team to the limit, and their performance will undoubtedly be taken into account by the selection committee.
As the season wears on, Virginia's win will look more and more impressive on their resume. The Cavaliers have already built a strong case for a high seed in the tournament, and this victory will only add to their credibility. With their net ranking currently sitting at 14, Virginia is firmly in the mix for a top-4 seed. Meanwhile, Notre Dame want to bounce back from the tough loss and continue to build their own tournament resume, with their net ranking of 83 leaving them with work to do in the coming weeks.