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Notre Dame Basketball: Mike Brey’s Top Five Memorable Games

By Chase Eyrich

SOUTH BEND, IN - DECEMBER 09: Head coach Mike Brey of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish is seen on the sidelines during the game against the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers at Purcell Pavilion on December 9, 2014 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - DECEMBER 09: Head coach Mike Brey of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish is seen on the sidelines during the game against the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers at Purcell Pavilion on December 9, 2014 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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RALEIGH, NC – JANUARY 25: Jerian Grant
RALEIGH, NC – JANUARY 25: Jerian Grant /

February 9, 2013 – Notre Dame 104, Louisville 101 (5OT)

This game quite possibly is the first time Notre Dame has ever lost a game one day, then won it the next.

The longest game in school history went well into the night and spilled over into the morning.

All hope seemed lost with 1:27 left in the game as Russ Smith gave Louisville a 53-45 lead. Fans started to head for the doors in hopes of beating the traffic in what was already a late night.

Then, it happened.

Jerian Grant made a free throw that was followed by an Irish steal and a Pat Connaughton layup. All the sudden it seemed like there was a chance. Louisville’s Smith then came away with a slam and Chane Behanan with a free throw.

Those who were hesitant to leave before, have now started heading for the exits.

With an eight-point lead again and 50-seconds left to play, fans figured that’s how this was supposed to go down. It was No. 11 Louisville vs. No. 25 Notre Dame after all.

The fans might have been okay with settling but Jerian Grant was not. A comeback in a game like this often means hitting some quick shots and hoping for missed free throws on the other end. This wasn’t going to be anything close to normal.

Grant was ready to take over. In a span of 16-seconds, Grant nailed three trifectas. Louisville did their end of the bargain making four-of-four from the free throw line during that span.

With a three-point lead, the Cardinals missed their next two from the line. Defensively they then made their two biggest mistakes of the game. The first one, letting Notre Dame put the ball in the hands of Grant in the middle of his Reggie Miller rampage. The second mistake, fouling Grant on his way to the rack. The old-fashioned three-point play would tie the game and cap off Grants 12-points in 28 seconds as the Irish forced overtime.

Grant fouled out with the game tied in overtime.

In Brey’s next man up system, Garrick Sherman answered the call. It may have taken five overtimes but it’s where Sherman scored all of his points that night. 17 from the big man would be what the Irish needed to finish off the longest game in program history on top.

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