Notre Dame Handles Georgia Tech, 89-74, Behind Certa’s Career Night and Balanced Effort
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Without two of their most important players, Notre Dame needed someone to step up. What they got was a breakout performance, a statement win, and a glimpse of what this young squad is capable of when the pieces click.
Missing standout freshman Markus Burton for the 16th straight game and learning less than an hour before tipoff that Jalen Haralson would be sidelined with an ankle injury, the Irish could’ve folded. Instead, they came out firing and never looked back, cruising to an 89-74 win over Georgia Tech at Purcell Pavilion.
Let’s break it down.
Certa Ignites the Offense
Cole Certa didn’t just fill in - he lit the place on fire. The freshman guard poured in a career-high 37 points, shooting 12-of-20 from the field and knocking down 7-of-11 from deep. He had 21 points by halftime and looked completely in rhythm, scoring in bunches and stretching Georgia Tech’s defense to its breaking point.
This wasn’t just a hot hand - it was calculated, confident shot-making. Certa’s ability to find space and punish defenders off the catch or dribble gave Notre Dame the offensive engine they desperately needed without Burton and Haralson. And he did it without forcing the issue.
“I just think about each play and try to play,” Certa said postgame, when asked about keeping his focus off the scoreboard. That mindset paid off in a big way.
Shrewsberry and Imes Step Up
While Certa stole the spotlight, Braeden Shrewsberry and Logan Imes gave the Irish the stability they needed on both ends.
Shrewsberry came out aggressive, scoring 14 of his 20 points in the first half and helping Notre Dame establish early control. He hit four threes and was perfect from the line (6-for-6), providing a much-needed veteran presence in the backcourt. Yes, he committed four turnovers, but his shot-making and poise outweighed the miscues.
Imes, who got the starting nod in place of Haralson, had a quiet first half but came alive in the second. He scored nine of his 14 points after the break, including two early layups that jumpstarted an 8-0 run to open the second half and push the lead to 18. He also grabbed nine rebounds and dished out three assists, playing 36 minutes of composed, two-way basketball.
“He’s going to play hard as hell,” head coach Micah Shrewsberry said of Imes. “You know what you’re getting.”
That level of trust showed - and Imes delivered.
Why Notre Dame Won
This game was won with energy, execution, and effort - especially on the glass and in transition.
Georgia Tech came in ranked last in the ACC in turnover margin, and that weakness showed early. At one point, Notre Dame had just two turnovers to the Yellow Jackets’ nine. While it evened out by the end, that early advantage gave the Irish the breathing room they needed to build a double-digit lead.
Notre Dame also dominated second-chance opportunities, outscoring Georgia Tech 17-8 in that category and pulling down 13 offensive boards to Tech’s five. The Irish won the overall rebounding battle 36-23, a major swing factor in a game where hustle stats mattered.
And then there was the shooting. Georgia Tech missed its first eight three-point attempts and finished just 11-of-30 (36.7%). Notre Dame, meanwhile, caught fire from deep, hitting 14-of-28 from beyond the arc - a clean 50%.
Simply put, the Irish played harder, smarter, and more together. Even without two key pieces, they looked like the better team from the opening tip.
First-Half Foundation
After Georgia Tech scored the game’s first basket, Notre Dame took control and never gave it back. A 6-0 Yellow Jackets run briefly tied things up midway through the first half, but Shrewsberry’s three from the top of the key stopped the bleeding and sparked a surge.
From there, the Irish closed the half on a 19-8 run, powered by Certa’s long-range shooting and a timely corner three from Brady Koehler. By the break, Notre Dame led 45-33 - and Certa and Shrewsberry had combined for 35 of those points.
Georgia Tech did some damage inside (16 points in the paint in the first half) and got 25 combined points from Kowacie Reeves Jr. and Baye Ndongo before halftime. But Notre Dame’s ball movement - nine assists on 15 made buckets - and perimeter shooting kept them comfortably in front.
Hustle Plays and Fan Favorites
One of the loudest ovations of the afternoon came midway through the second half, when Carson Towt battled for multiple offensive rebounds, tipping out missed threes and eventually finishing the possession himself. It was a gritty sequence that symbolized the kind of effort Notre Dame brought all game long.
Towt finished with eight points and nine boards, and while his stat line won’t jump off the page, his physicality and presence were undeniable.
Both teams were excellent from the free-throw line - Notre Dame went 17-for-19, while Georgia Tech hit 13-of-14 - but the Irish simply generated more quality looks and controlled the tempo.
Notable Courtside Guests
There was plenty of support in the building, too. Former Notre Dame star Blake Wesley was courtside across from the Irish bench, and head football coach Marcus Freeman took in his second home game in a row. You could feel the energy from the crowd, especially as the Irish pulled away in the second half.
Final Thoughts
This was a much-needed win for a Notre Dame team trying to climb into the top 15 of the ACC standings and punch its ticket to the conference tournament. The Irish snapped a five-game skid and handed Georgia Tech its seventh straight loss - and 12th consecutive defeat in Purcell Pavilion.
More than anything, though, this was a showcase of resilience. Without Burton and Haralson, Notre Dame found a way - thanks to a career night from Certa, big-time contributions from Shrewsberry and Imes, and a total team effort on the boards and on defense.
If this group can keep building on that foundation, there’s still plenty of fight left in their season.