Sports

March Madness 2022: Notre Dame Beats Rutgers in First Four Game

Notre Dame will advance to the first round game of the NCAA tournament after defeating Rutgers 89-87 in the First Four challenge.

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Notre Dame players celebrate after defeating Rutgers 89-87 in double overtime in the First Four game of the NCAA men's college basketball tournament, early Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Dayton, Ohio.
Notre Dame players celebrate after defeating Rutgers 89-87 in double overtime in the First Four game of the NCAA men's college basketball tournament, early Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Dayton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Notre Dame has a lot to celebrate this St. Patrick's Day, after defeating Rutgers 89-87 last night in a thrilling First Four game.

Scoring the winning layup with 1.4 seconds left in overtime was forward Paul Atkinson Jr., after rebounding a missed shot by Rutgers Blake Wesley. Atkinson capped off the game with a cool 26 points and six rebounds. In a postgame interview, Atkinson said, "I saw Blake driving to the rim and knew he was going to go hard, either get a foul or make a bucket. I just wanted to follow up if it was a miss and no call. I just wanted to chase after the ball. Got it up and got a good bucket.”

Notre Dame now advances to the first-round game of the championship this Friday against No. 6 Alabama in San Diego.

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Check out photos below of Notre Dame's victory over Rutgers in the First Four game below:

Notre Dame players celebrate after defeating Rutgers 89-87 in double overtime. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Notre Dame players congratulate one another after the victory. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Rutgers' Clifford Omoruyi (11) defends as Notre Dame's Paul Atkinson Jr. (20) shoots during the first half of the game. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Rutgers' Caleb McConnell (22) shoots against Notre Dame's Dane Goodwin (23) during the first half of the game. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Notre Dame's Paul Atkinson Jr., left, defends as Rutgers' Ron Harper Jr. drives to the basket during the first half of the game. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Rutgers' Caleb McConnell drives to the basket during the first half of the game. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Rutgers' Caleb McConnell yells after making shot while being fouled during the first half of the game. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Rutgers' Ron Harper Jr. (24) shoots over Notre Dame's Paul Atkinson Jr. during the first half of the game. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Notre Dame's Blake Wesley wears a shirt in support of Ukraine, as players warm up. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)

The Associated Press contributed to this post.

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