In a dramatic college basketball showdown at Purcell Pavilion on Saturday, February 28, 2026, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish delivered a stunning upset over the favored NC State Wolfpack, clinching a 96-90 overtime victory that could shake up the ACC tournament picture. The afternoon was packed with twists, standout performances, and moments that left fans on the edge of their seats—just the way March basketball is meant to be!
Coming into the matchup, NC State (19-10, 10-6 ACC) was widely expected to handle business against a struggling Notre Dame (13-16, 4-12 ACC) squad. The Wolfpack were 6.5-point favorites according to BetMGM, and predictive models gave them a 69.5% chance to win outright. With a double bye in the ACC tournament on the line, the stakes were high for the visitors. Meanwhile, Notre Dame, tied at the bottom of the league standings, had everything to prove and little to lose.
But as the saying goes, that’s why they play the games. Despite the odds, the Irish put the "fight" in Fighting Irish, overcoming deficits, responding to every Wolfpack run, and ultimately seizing control in the extra period. The game was broadcast nationwide on The CW Network, with Wes Durham and Dennis Scott calling the action for a crowd that had no clue what the crazy teams would do next—but certainly hoped for fireworks. They got them.
Notre Dame’s offense, ranked 241st nationally and averaging 73.8 points per game, found another gear on this day. The Irish shot a scorching 52.5% from the field and an eye-popping 48% from beyond the arc, far surpassing their season averages. Cole Certa, who averages 12.1 points per game, exploded for 32 points and hit three clutch three-pointers in overtime that gave Notre Dame its first lead in the extra session and ultimately propelled them to victory. It was a performance just five points shy of his career high, set against Georgia Tech two weeks prior.
“Give Notre Dame credit. They’ve got great players,” NC State head coach Will Wade said after the game. “They picked up mismatches all night; did a great job with that. Coach (Micah) Shrewsberry is a phenomenal coach and did a good job getting Haralson downhill. We lost Certa early in the game. They did a better job picking the mismatches than we did.”
Jalen Haralson, returning to the Irish lineup after missing three straight games, made his presence felt in a big way. He poured in 25 points, including two ice-cold free throws with 19.1 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 81 and force overtime. Haralson, who’s been Notre Dame’s leading scorer since Markus Burton suffered a season-ending ankle injury in December, was electric. “He can put the defense in rotation, and their other guards are good players, but those other guards can’t put the defense in rotation like he can,” Wade noted. “Having him just adds a totally different dynamic to what they do and to how they do it. He was phenomenal tonight.”
NC State’s offensive numbers weren’t shabby—46.3% from the field—but they struggled from deep, finishing at just 29.4% on threes. After starting a red-hot 7-for-12 from long range, they cooled off dramatically, closing just 3-for-22 to end the game. The Wolfpack, who have shot below 30% from beyond the arc in three of their last five games, couldn’t buy a bucket when it mattered most. Ven-Allen Lubin, making his return to Notre Dame, led the Wolfpack with 24 points and 10 rebounds, while Quadir Copeland and Darrion Williams chipped in 17 points apiece.
Copeland’s play was a bright spot for the visitors. He logged 42 minutes, scoring and distributing effectively, finishing with nine assists. “When we don’t have him in, it’s a lot harder for us to get open shots,” Wade remarked earlier in the week. “We can’t get the defense in rotation, we can’t get clean looks, so that’s the bigger issue of not having him in—our shot quality goes drastically down.” Still, Copeland fouled out with 19.2 seconds left in overtime, just as the Wolfpack were desperately trying to regain possession.
The loss wasn’t without adversity for NC State. Freshman forward Musa Sagnia, who has played limited minutes but provides valuable frontcourt depth, left the game early with a right ankle injury. He limped off the court in the first half and did not return. His absence forced the Wolfpack to shift their rotation, relying more on center Scottie Ebube and testing their depth at a crucial time.
Defensively, NC State simply couldn’t contain the Irish. Despite forcing 12 turnovers, the Wolfpack lacked the intensity and physicality that has defined their best performances. Notre Dame’s ability to break down the defense and make tough shots over defenders—like Braeden Shrewsberry’s deep three over Lubin—kept the pressure on all afternoon. The Irish ended regulation on a 7-0 run, erasing a late deficit and setting the stage for their overtime heroics. In the extra session, they outscored the Wolfpack 15-9, as Certa and Haralson took turns delivering daggers.
The implications of this upset are significant. For NC State, the loss means their path to a coveted double bye in the ACC tournament just got much steeper. They’ll need to win out, including a daunting matchup with No. 1 Duke on Monday—a team fresh off a 77-51 rout of Virginia. The Wolfpack entered the day in the top four of the league but could now slip, depending on results elsewhere. As for Notre Dame, the victory keeps their faint ACC tournament hopes alive, as they jockey for position in a crowded bottom tier with Pittsburgh and Boston College. The Irish close the regular season with games against Stanford and Boston College, both winnable if they can replicate Saturday’s effort.
“N.C. State does some different stuff with how they switch and how you’ve got to attack. They take you out of a lot of things,” Notre Dame coach Micah Shrewsberry said. “There’s a lot of ‘Sandlot’ out there for us, and these guys just being basketball players and making plays, that’s the fun part.”
For the Wolfpack, it’s a bitter pill to swallow after a season that’s seen its share of highs and lows. Their defense, which had already allowed 369 points in the last four road games, continued to struggle, giving up 96 points to a Notre Dame team that’s been inconsistent all year. The Irish, meanwhile, proved that heart and hustle can upend even the most daunting odds.
With March looming and tournament dreams on the line, both teams now look ahead—NC State to a must-win showdown with Duke, and Notre Dame to a final push for ACC tournament relevance. Saturday’s thriller at Purcell Pavilion will be remembered as a game where numbers didn’t matter, but grit and execution did.