Notre Dame Stuns No. 19 Michigan State 79-78 in OT

The ACC/Big Ten challenge brought Tom Izzo and his No. 19 Michigan State Spartans into Purcell on Wednesday. The visit to South Bend will not leave him with a smile, but will leave Notre Dame with the confidence they can compete with top teams.

Jerian Grant had a career-high 27 points, and his backcourt teammate Demetrius Jackson put up a career-best 22 as the Fighting Irish (7-1) beat the Spartans 79-78 in overtime.

Grant had the bigger game, but Jackson had some of the critical buckets. With 2:19 to play in OT, he hit a lay-up and drew the foul, completing the three-point play. to put the Irish up five. Following a three by Spartans Denel Valentine at the buzzer, it turned out to be the winning basket.

More from Notre Dame Men's Basketball

I love my guards,” Brey said. “I think I have the best backcourt in the country. Not a lot of people talk about them, but if you watched us tonight, it would be hard to argue against it.”

The Irish had a chance to win it in regulation, as Grant took the inbound pass and appeared to have a lane to the basket, but contact knocked the ball away, and no foul was called, which appeared to be the right call.

It’s likely the Spartans (5-3) wouldn’t argue that point. Valentine finished with 22 points, and Brandon Dawson added had 16-points and a career-high 18 rebounds in the losing effort.

Both teams were dealing with key players injured or sick. The Spartans top scorer Travis Trice (16.4 PPG), was battling an illness all week and was held to 3-of-13 shooting and only seven points. V.J. Beachem, normally the first off the bench for Brey, has a right foot injury and is expected to miss about a month.

This was Notre Dame’s first game against a Top-25 team this year. Last season the Irish went 1-5 against ranked opponents.

The Irish will host Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday.

Highlights courtesy of UND.com

Notre Dame Stuns No. 19 Michigan State 79-78 In OT, Moves To 7-1

By Nicholas D. Blazek | Dec 4, 2014