Irish Fall to Purdue Fort Wayne, 72-69: A Close Call in the Final Non-Conference Game
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish suffered a narrow 72-69 loss to the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons in their final non-conference game of the season. This marked their first defeat inside Purcell Pavilion this season, a significant home court advantage that they had previously relied on.
Jalen Haralson led the Irish with a strong performance, scoring a season-high 21 points and grabbing 9 rebounds, along with 4 assists. Haralson's impressive shooting accuracy was evident, as he made 6 out of 13 shots from the floor and 9 out of 11 free throws. This was his third game with 20 or more points, showcasing his growing confidence and skill.
Braeden Shrewsberry followed closely behind, contributing 13 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist. His performance was crucial in keeping the Irish in the game.
Logan Imes also had a career-high 12 points, making 5 out of 10 shots from the floor. He recorded 4 rebounds and a career-best 4 steals, demonstrating his all-around excellence on the court.
Despite both teams' identical field goal percentages (40%), the Mastodons had the edge in three-point shooting, making 11 out of 35 attempts compared to Notre Dame's 7 out of 27. The Irish, however, dominated the rebounding department, outperforming the Mastodons 43-28.
The game began with the Mastodons taking an early lead, shooting 4 out of 6 from the floor, while the Irish struggled offensively with a 3-10 start. This resulted in a 10-6 lead for Purdue Fort Wayne at the first media timeout.
The Mastodons' momentum continued, extending their lead to 15-2 over a 4:30 span. However, Braeden Shrewsberry's three-pointer stopped their run, making it 15-9 at 13:40. Both teams then traded baskets, but a three-minute scoring drought followed, with each team struggling to find the net.
Shrewsberry's second three-pointer brought the Irish back into the game, making it 17-14. The Mastodons responded with an and-one for a three-point play, sparking a 10-2 run. A pair of Haralson free throws brought the Irish within single digits, making it a 27-18 game with 2:51 left in the half.
The Irish then went on an 8-0 run, with Towt's finish at the rim and Haralson's layup, to cut the deficit to just three at 27-24 at halftime.
The second half saw the Irish come out swinging, with Imes' layup and three-pointer, along with Haralson's layup, giving them their first lead since the beginning of the game at 17:26. The game remained close, with both teams trading baskets and neither able to pull away.
Back-to-back threes from the Irish, including Imes and Koehler, tied the game at 41-all. The game became a series of runs, with the Irish going 6-0 and the Mastodons responding with a 5-0 run to make it 46-41 at 11:57. Shrewsberry's four straight points brought the Irish within one.
The game remained close throughout, with Sundra's layup bringing the Irish within three at 54-51, and Certa's free throws making it a point game with just under five minutes left. Both teams then entered a two-minute scoring drought, but the Irish trailed by just one possession with 1:39 remaining.
A 6-0 Fort Wayne run surged them to a 62-55 lead with 45 seconds left. Certa's three-pointer brought the Irish within four, and the game became a foul-filled affair as both teams fought for possession.
In the final 37 seconds, 17 free throws were attempted between both teams, but the Irish ultimately fell short, losing 72-69 to Purdue Fort Wayne.
The Irish will now turn their attention to conference play, opening up in California next week with games against Stanford on December 30 and Cal on January 2.
