Notre Dame clinches ACC Tournament bid, tops Stanford 56-54

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish secured a crucial 56-54 victory over the Stanford Cardinal, clinching a spot in the upcoming ACC Tournament. Freshman Cole Certa hit a pivotal three-pointer with 18 seconds left, marking a significant moment for a player averaging just 2.4 points per game. Markus Burton led the Irish with 24 points, scoring 17 in the second half, as Notre Dame rallied from a nine-point deficit to take a late lead. Stanford had a chance to tie or win the game, but Ryan Agarwal's last-second shot missed the mark. The Irish's defense proved critical, as they held Stanford scoreless in the final minutes, allowing them to overcome an earlier 10-2 run by the Cardinal. Notre Dame will look to improve its seeding in the ACC Tournament as they prepare for their regular-season finale against California.