Notre Dame eliminated by Old Dominion

Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS

As Carleton Scott’s 3-pointer sailed toward the hoop and rattled around the rim, Old Dominion’s Keyon Carter was already bracing for the possibility of a tie game.

Then the shot popped out, giving the Monarchs the NCAA tournament’s first upset.

“I said, ‘Here we go again.’ Those guys made a lot of clutch 3s,” Carter said. “I was kind of thinking overtime, but gratefully, it rimmed out.”

Scott’s 3-pointer didn’t fall, and Luke Harangody’s putback wasn’t enough for sixth-seeded Notre Dame on Thursday. Old Dominion held on for a 51-50 victory in the first round of the South Regional, its first NCAA tournament win since beating Villanova in triple overtime in 1995.

“I think it reflects the magic of March, the way the two teams battled,” Old Dominion coach Blaine Taylor said. “One of the officials turns to me at the two-minute mark and said, ‘It’s been a heck of a game,’ and I really think it was.”

Old Dominion will try for another upset in the second round against third-seeded Baylor.

In a game that was as slow-paced as advertised, Notre Dame (23-12) led 30-22 early in the second half before the Monarchs (27-8) used a 9-0 run to take the lead.

It was close the rest of the way.

Frank Hassell’s three-point play for Old Dominion with 5:51 remaining tied it at 43, and neither team scored for the next three minutes. Old Dominion’s Darius James traded 3-pointers with Scott, and Gerald Lee put the Monarchs ahead with a shot from the perimeter. After Harangody missed inside, Lee made a free throw to make it 49-46 with 56.2 seconds left.

Tory Jackson missed a potential tying 3, but James missed the front end of a one-and-one from the foul line for Old Dominion. Harangody scored with 12.6 seconds left to make it 49-48, but Carter made both free throws with 9.6 seconds remaining.

Scott was well defended on Notre Dame’s final possession, but he was able to get a shot off that didn’t miss by much.