California defeats Notre Dame 72-71

California Pulls Off Dramatic Upset Over Notre Dame

In an instant-classic conference showdown at Haas Pavilion, the University of California Golden Bears edged out the visiting University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish 72-71, capping off an electrifying comeback for the host team.

Trailing by four points at halftime, California stormed back with a vengeance, fueled by Dai Dai Ames's 23 points, 4-9 three-point shooting, and 56.2% field goal accuracy. The junior phenom orchestrated the Golden Bears' resurgence, notching three assists in the process.

The turning point in the game came midway through the second half when California erased a four-point deficit to take the lead for good. Notre Dame's Braeden Shrewsberry led the Fighting Irish with 21 points but struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on just five of his 12 attempts at 29.4%.

California outrebounded Notre Dame 34-44 but made up for it by dominating in transition, scoring 13 fast break points to their opponents' 10.

The two teams traded blows throughout the game, with neither team willing to back down. California's Lee Dort chipped in 11 rebounds and four points, while Logan Imes provided eight rebounds and six assists for Notre Dame.

In a thrilling conclusion, the Golden Bears managed to eke out a one-point victory, their largest lead of the contest coming at 7-12. The margin was their second-largest of the night, with California's Dai Dai Ames leading the charge in the comeback effort.

Advanced statistics paint an intriguing picture of both teams' performance, with California boasting an effective field goal percentage (eFG%) of 49.2%, while Notre Dame shot a respectable 50.0% from the floor. The Golden Bears also outplayed their opponents in terms of offensive rebounding percentage (OREB%), making the most of second-chance opportunities.

The win marks a significant upstart for California, which now moves closer to achieving parity in conference play. Meanwhile, Notre Dame's loss serves as a reminder that no team is invincible on any given night.