SOUTH BEND, Ind. (Interstat) — In a game defined by offensive efficiency and a decisive early run, the Stanford Cardinal secured a critical road victory Wednesday night, defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 86-78 at a subdued Joyce Athletic Center.

The win improved Stanford to 19-11 overall and in Atlantic Coast Conference play, while Notre Dame fell to 13-17. The game served as a stark reversal from the teams’ first meeting on Dec. 30, a 47-40 defensive slog won by the Fighting Irish.

From the opening tip, Stanford established an offensive rhythm that Notre Dame could never fully disrupt. The Cardinal shot a blistering 57% from the field, including 12 of 23 from three-point range. Their offensive execution was nearly flawless, scoring 86 points on just 62 possessions for an elite offensive rating of 139.6. Notre Dame, by contrast, managed only 22 field goals on 51 attempts and relied heavily on free throws, making 25 of 28, to stay within reach.

The most important stretch of the game came late in the first half, turning a tight contest into a commanding lead for the visitors. With Stanford leading 28-25 and under seven minutes remaining before halftime, guard Ebuka Okorie ignited a game-breaking surge. The junior from Nashua, New Hampshire, hit a three-pointer, then after a Notre Dame turnover, found Donavin Young for another three on the next possession. Following a Fighting Irish miss, Okorie drilled another three-pointer, this time assisted by Young, to cap a personal 9-0 run in a span of just over two minutes, pushing the Cardinal advantage to 37-25.

That sequence forced a Notre Dame timeout and effectively broke the game open. Stanford carried a 45-37 lead into the break and maintained a double-digit cushion for much of the second half. The Fighting Irish made several pushes, closing to within six points on multiple occasions, but each time Stanford answered with a critical basket to stem the momentum.

Okorie was the orchestrator of Stanford’s attack, finishing with 24 points and seven assists in 34 minutes. His backcourt partner, Jeremy Dent-Smith of Hawthorne, California, provided a potent scoring punch off the bench, contributing 21 points, including five three-pointers, in just 20 minutes of action. Their combined backcourt production overwhelmed Notre Dame, which managed only three total assists as a team.

Stanford’s frontcourt also made significant contributions. AJ Rohosy of San Anselmo, California, scored 11 points and provided a defensive presence, while Donavin Young of Pasco, Washington, added 10 points and three blocks, his interior defense helping to alter numerous Notre Dame attempts.

The Fighting Irish were led by Jalen Haralson of Anderson, Indiana, who scored 19 points, largely from the free-throw line where he was 11 of 12. Cole Certa of Le Roy, Illinois, added 17 points, and Braeden Shrewsberry of Granger, Indiana, scored 14. Despite their efforts, Notre Dame’s offense often stalled in half-court sets, evidenced by their low assist total and 22-of-51 shooting performance.

Defensively, Stanford’s activity created problems, generating seven steals and forcing nine Notre Dame turnovers while committing only five themselves. The Cardinal also blocked six shots, with Young’s three leading the way.

The announced attendance was 3,902 at the Joyce Center. Stanford will conclude its regular season on the road Saturday at North Carolina State. Notre Dame will travel to face Boston College on Saturday.

According to the Interstat ELO system, Stanford entered with a 52.3% probability to win, slightly defying the pregame betting line which had installed Notre Dame as a one-point favorite. The combined score of 164 points sailed over the posted over/under line of 144.5, a testament to the offensive display, particularly from the visiting Cardinal.