On Wednesday night, college basketball fans were treated to one of the most exciting play-in games in NCAA Tournament history between the #11 Rutgers Scarlet Knights and  #11 Notre Dame Fighting Irish. In the first half, Rutgers got the better of it, consistently holding a lead and closing the half up 41-36.

But midway through the second half, Notre Dame had taken the lead. From there on out, the game went back and forth. With under two minutes remaining in regulation, Rutgers' Geo Baker sank a layup to tie the game at 69. Neither team would score the remainder of regulation, sending the game to the overtime.

In overtime, the craziness continued with five lead changes. With 10 seconds remaining, Paul Mulcahy hit a three pointer to give Rutgers a 79-77 lead. However, Notre Dame's Blake Wesley answered with a layin with four seconds remaining. That would send the game into double overtime. It was such a crazy sequence.

In double overtime, there were four more lead changes. Once again, there was an insane sequence at the end, but this time it provided a winner. Rutgers found themselves trailing by three points until Ron Harper Jr. knocked down a triple with just over 20 seconds left. Notre Dame took the clock down, as they should. Wesley missed the lay-in this time, but Paul Atkinson Jr. was there for the put back with 1.4 seconds left. Rutgers could not get a shot off and Notre Dame advanced to the first round of the NCAA Tournament Friday night.

 

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The Fighting Irish got a thrilling, 89-87, victory just minutes before it the clock turned midnight and became St. Patrick's Day. The Irish advance to face off with #6 seed Alabama.

In the other First Four game Wednesday, #16 Wright State defeated #16 Bryant, 93-82.