SOUTH BEND, Ind. (Interstat) — Cole Certa delivered a career-defining performance, erupting for 37 points to lead Notre Dame to an 89-74 victory over Georgia Tech in Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball on Saturday at a sold-out Joyce Athletic Center.

Certa, a 6-foot-5 sophomore from Le Roy, Illinois, was the catalyst for the Fighting Irish, connecting on seven 3-pointers and shooting a perfect 10-for-10 from the free-throw line. His offensive outburst, which included 20 points in a dominant first half, proved too much for a Georgia Tech team that struggled to find consistent stops.

The most important stretch of the game came late in the first half, as Certa single-handedly broke open a tight contest. With Notre Dame leading 26-23, Certa ignited a personal 13-3 run over a span of just two minutes and 35 seconds. He buried three consecutive 3-pointers, the last a stepback jumper just before the halftime buzzer, to send the Fighting Irish into the locker room with a commanding 45-33 advantage. That flurry established a tone and a lead that Georgia Tech would never seriously threaten.

Notre Dame improved to 12-14 overall, while Georgia Tech fell to 11-15. The game drew an attendance of 5,906.

The Fighting Irish complemented Certa’s scoring with balanced contributions. Braeden Shrewsberry of Granger, Indiana, added 20 points and four assists, while Logan Imes filled the stat sheet with 14 points, nine rebounds and three assists. Carson Towt anchored the interior with eight points, nine rebounds and two assists.

Georgia Tech was led by Baye Ndongo, who recorded a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Kowacie Reeves scored a team-high 16 points and added three blocked shots, and Jaeden Mustaf and Akai Fleming chipped in 14 and 13 points, respectively. The Yellow Jackets managed to score 20 points off Notre Dame turnovers but were ultimately undone by the Irish’s efficient offense and Certa’s hot hand.

Notre Dame set the pace from the opening tip, building an early lead behind the backcourt duo of Certa and Shrewsberry. Georgia Tech stayed within striking distance for much of the first half, with Reeves and Ndongo providing answers inside. However, the Yellow Jackets’ offense went cold during Certa’s late-half explosion, and they entered the break facing a 12-point deficit.

The second half saw Notre Dame maintain its double-digit cushion. Every time Georgia Tech showed signs of a rally, the Irish had a response, often from Certa or a timely basket from Imes or Towt. The lead ballooned to as many as 18 points, and Georgia Tech never got closer than nine in the final period.

The victory provided a bright spot for Notre Dame, which had lost three consecutive games entering Saturday’s contest. For Georgia Tech, the loss extended a difficult stretch, marking their fourth defeat in the last five outings.

Notre Dame shot effectively from the floor and from beyond the arc, while also converting 30 points in the paint. Georgia Tech held a slight edge in points off turnovers and fastbreak points, but could not overcome Notre Dame’s superior shooting afternoon and Certa’s extraordinary individual effort.

Interstat’s ELO system had projected Notre Dame with a 71.9% probability to win. The Fighting Irish covered the pregame spread of 7 points. The total score of 163 surpassed the over/under line of 149.5.

Georgia Tech returns home to host Virginia on Wednesday. Notre Dame hits the road for its next contest, traveling to face Pittsburgh on Saturday.