BERKELEY, Calif. (Interstat) — In a heart-stopping finish befitting the high stakes of early Atlantic Coast Conference play, Dai Dai Ames sank a go-ahead 3-pointer with five seconds remaining and completed a four-point play to lift California to a dramatic 72-71 victory over Notre Dame on Friday night at Haas Pavilion.

The Golden Bears, overcoming a sluggish first half with a torrid second-half offensive display, erased a 13-point deficit to steal a win in their conference home opener before a crowd of 5,158.

The game’s decisive sequence unfolded in the final frantic moments. With California trailing 71-68, Notre Dame’s Braeden Shrewsberry missed the second of two free throws with nine seconds left. The Golden Bears secured the rebound and pushed the ball upcourt without a timeout. Ames, who had been a scoring force all night, received a pass on the right wing, elevated over a defender and drilled a deep 3-pointer while being fouled by Notre Dame’s Logan Imes.

Ames calmly sank the ensuing free throw to put California ahead 72-71. Notre Dame, out of timeouts, could only manage a desperation heave from Shrewsberry at the buzzer that missed, sealing the Golden Bears’ comeback.

The contest was a tale of two halves. Notre Dame, the visiting Fighting Irish, controlled the opening period with disciplined execution and sharp perimeter shooting. They built a 31-27 halftime lead, which ballooned to 13 points early in the second half behind the scoring of Shrewsberry and Cole Certa. For much of the night, Notre Dame’s offense flowed efficiently, answering every California push with a timely basket.

California’s resurgence was fueled by Ames, the dynamic guard from Chicago. He finished with a game-high 23 points, including 17 in the second half, to spearhead the Golden Bears’ 45-point outburst after the break. His backcourt mate, Justin Pippen, added 14 points, while Chris Bell contributed 15, providing crucial secondary scoring.

Notre Dame was led by Shrewsberry’s 21 points, with 15 coming after halftime. Jalen Haralson added 17 points, four assists and a key block, and Certa chipped in 16 points, but their efforts ultimately fell one possession short. The Fighting Irish’s offense, so potent for the first 35 minutes, managed only two field goals in the final four minutes, allowing California to complete its climb.

The first half was defined by Notre Dame’s defensive intensity and California’s offensive struggles. The Golden Bears shot poorly from the field and committed several turnovers, unable to find a consistent rhythm against the Irish’s switching schemes. Notre Dame, meanwhile, capitalized with a balanced attack, getting early scores from Haralson and key bench contributions to maintain a lead they would carry into the locker room.

The second half saw a complete reversal. California emerged with renewed energy, attacking the basket and finding success from beyond the arc. A 12-2 run midway through the half, keyed by Ames and Pippen, erased the double-digit deficit and set the stage for a back-and-forth battle down the stretch. The lead changed hands six times in the final six minutes, with neither team able to secure more than a one-possession advantage.

The victory improves California’s season record to 13-2 overall and 1-0 in ACC play. The Golden Bears, who were installed as a 3.5-point pregame favorite, narrowly covered the spread, and the total score of 143 points went over the projected line of 138.5. Notre Dame falls to 10-5 overall and 0-1 in the conference.

The most critical juncture of the game was unquestionably the final nine seconds. Following Shrewsberry’s missed free throw, California’s decision to play on in transition rather than call a timeout proved inspired. It prevented Notre Dame from setting its defense and allowed Ames, the team’s hottest hand, to create a shot in space. His contested three and the accompanying foul transformed a near-certain defeat into an improbable victory, encapsulating the volatility and excitement of conference play.

California next travels to face Virginia on Wednesday. Notre Dame returns home to host Clemson on Jan. 10.