Notre Dame kicked off its new season on a high note with an impressive 89-67 victory over Long Island University in South Bend, Indiana, on Monday night. The Fighting Irish had a well-rounded performance behind standout performances from Markus Burton and Cole Certa.
Burton led the team with 24 points, including crucial minutes down the stretch where he helped Notre Dame edge ahead of LIU. Fellow sophomore Certa broke out for a career-high 22 points off the bench, marking a significant improvement over last season's limited production. The transfer from Northern Arizona also chipped in with 19 rebounds to round out the night.
Cole Certa's breakout performance was complemented by Ryder Frost's emergence as a key contributor. The freshman scored 15 crucial points in the final minutes of the game, helping Notre Dame extend its lead over LIU. Meanwhile, Carson Towt controlled the boards, matching his career high with 19 rebounds.
Despite a slow start to the second half, Notre Dame found its rhythm and went on a tear, scoring 49 points at a blistering 64% clip. The Fighting Irish outshot their opponents 49-41 overall. Long Island University struggled to find their footing, managing just 37% from the field in the first half.
On the other side of the court, LIU relied heavily on its top scorers Mason Porter-Brown and Jamal Fuller, each scoring 12 points. However, they were unable to stem the tide as Notre Dame took control. Greg Gordon added another impressive line, tallying 11 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and four steals.
The win marks a strong opening statement for Notre Dame as it embarks on its new season. With performances like these from Burton, Certa, Frost, and Towt, the Fighting Irish look poised to make some noise in college basketball this year.
Burton led the team with 24 points, including crucial minutes down the stretch where he helped Notre Dame edge ahead of LIU. Fellow sophomore Certa broke out for a career-high 22 points off the bench, marking a significant improvement over last season's limited production. The transfer from Northern Arizona also chipped in with 19 rebounds to round out the night.
Cole Certa's breakout performance was complemented by Ryder Frost's emergence as a key contributor. The freshman scored 15 crucial points in the final minutes of the game, helping Notre Dame extend its lead over LIU. Meanwhile, Carson Towt controlled the boards, matching his career high with 19 rebounds.
Despite a slow start to the second half, Notre Dame found its rhythm and went on a tear, scoring 49 points at a blistering 64% clip. The Fighting Irish outshot their opponents 49-41 overall. Long Island University struggled to find their footing, managing just 37% from the field in the first half.
On the other side of the court, LIU relied heavily on its top scorers Mason Porter-Brown and Jamal Fuller, each scoring 12 points. However, they were unable to stem the tide as Notre Dame took control. Greg Gordon added another impressive line, tallying 11 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and four steals.
The win marks a strong opening statement for Notre Dame as it embarks on its new season. With performances like these from Burton, Certa, Frost, and Towt, the Fighting Irish look poised to make some noise in college basketball this year.
notre dame started the season with a bang! i'm so hyped for cole certa's breakout performance 
22 points off the bench is insane! and markus burton's 24 points is no joke 
the team came together and showed what they're capable of. it's clear they've got some talented players this year 
plus, ryder frost's emergence as a key contributor is super exciting 
and carson towt just crushed it with those rebounds 
gotta keep an eye on this one, could be a great season ahead!
and Cole Certa breaking out on the bench is so inspiring, i love to see transfers making a difference in the game 
but what's interesting to me is how this win reflects the team's overall approach to the season, it seems like they're not just focusing on individual performances but also on their overall cohesion and teamwork 
