A furious outburst from Notre Dame head coach Micah Shrewsberry marred a dramatic and controversial ending to their clash with the California Golden Bears on Friday night. The incident was sparked by a refereeing decision that was reversed not once, but twice in the dying seconds, directly handing California a stunning 72-71 victory.
Chaos in the Final Seconds
With just 16 seconds left on the clock and holding a four-point lead, Notre Dame seemed poised to secure the win. The game unravelled spectacularly when California guard Dai Dai Ames sank a three-pointer to tie the game. Officials initially called a foul on Notre Dame's Logan Imes during the shot, which would have given Ames a chance at a four-point play.
In a moment of confusion, the referees then huddled and reversed their decision, ruling the foul occurred before the shooting motion began, which would have negated the basket entirely. However, after passionate pleas from California coach Mark Madsen, the officials reconvened and reverted to their original call, awarding Ames the three points plus a free throw.
Ames calmly sank the subsequent free throw, completing the crucial four-point play and putting California ahead 72-71 with only five seconds remaining. Notre Dame's last-gasp three-point attempt missed, sealing a heartbreaking defeat after they had controlled the final moments.
Shrewsberry's Instant Reaction and Potential Fallout
As the final buzzer sounded, an incensed Micah Shrewsberry immediately charged towards one of the game officials. The ball had barely been secured by a California player before the coach made a beeline across the court, with his assistant coaches sprinting to intercept and physically restrain him from confronting the referee.
The viral moment, captured on video and shared widely on social media, now places Shrewsberry in potential disciplinary jeopardy. He could face punishment from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) ahead of Notre Dame's next home game against Clemson on Saturday, January 10.
Post-Game Reactions and Season Standings
In his post-match comments, a victorious Mark Madsen acknowledged the high emotions but praised his player's composure. "I thought there was a foul going up," Madsen stated. "I saw the officials signal it. They conversed a couple of times and they allowed it... I was grateful Dai Dai Ames rose up and made the shot and had the maturity and the huge presence of mind to knock down the free throw."
The result leaves Notre Dame with a 10-5 record for the season, while California improved their impressive start to 13-2. The controversy is sure to fuel further debate about officiating consistency in college basketball, particularly in such high-pressure, game-deciding scenarios.
