SOUTH BEND, Ind. (Interstat) — In a game that defied the methodical reputation of Atlantic Coast Conference basketball, Thijs De Ridder and Cole Certa staged a scoring duel for the ages, culminating in Virginia outlasting Notre Dame in a double-overtime marathon, 100-97, on Tuesday night at a raucous Joyce Center.

The contest, which saw both teams eclipse 120 points per 100 possessions in a display of relentless offense, was ultimately decided by the Cavaliers’ composure and clutch free-throw shooting in the final extra session. Virginia scored 15 points in the second overtime, with 10 coming from the foul line, to finally subdue a resilient Fighting Irish squad that erased a 13-point second-half deficit.

The most critical sequence unfolded in the waning seconds of the first overtime. With Virginia trailing 85-83, Sam Lewis drained a deep 3-pointer from the top of the key with three seconds remaining, assisted by Dallin Hall, to send the game to a second overtime and stun the home crowd. That shot answered a pair of Cole Certa free throws that had given Notre Dame the lead just moments before.

From there, Virginia seized control. The Cavaliers opened the second overtime on a 7-2 run, fueled by free throws from Chance Mallory and Devin Tillis. Notre Dame, which managed only 12 points in the final period, could not find an answer as Virginia made 10 of 12 free throws in the final five minutes to seal the victory.

The game was a masterpiece of individual offense from the opening tip. Notre Dame’s Cole Certa, a sophomore from Le Roy, Illinois, poured in a career-high 34 points, including five 3-pointers, and was a constant threat from all over the floor. His backcourt mate, Jalen Haralson, added 20 points and seven assists, while Braeden Shrewsberry contributed 18 points.

But Virginia had an unstoppable force of its own in Thijs De Ridder. The junior from Antwerp, Belgium, matched his career high with a dominant 32-point performance, attacking the rim relentlessly and drawing fouls. He went 12-for-14 from the free-throw line, part of a 28-for-35 team effort that proved decisive. Sam Lewis provided crucial support with 21 points and six assists, including the game-tying triple in overtime, while Chance Mallory added 17 points.

Notre Dame raced to a 44-35 halftime lead behind torrid shooting, connecting on 7 of 13 from beyond the arc in the first period. The Irish maintained a comfortable margin for much of the second half before Virginia mounted its comeback. A 15-4 Cavaliers run, capped by a De Ridder driving layup with 47 seconds left in regulation, tied the game at 73 and forced the first overtime.

Both teams had chances to win in the initial extra period. Notre Dame’s Brady Koehler, who had 16 points and four blocks, swatted away a Chance Mallory layup attempt with 34 seconds left, setting up Certa’s go-ahead free throws before Lewis’s dramatic response.

The statistics underscored the offensive explosion. Virginia shot 47.7% from the field and Notre Dame shot 47.5%. The teams combined for 21 made 3-pointers and 62 free-throw attempts. Virginia’s edge came on the glass, with a 11-6 advantage in offensive rebounds leading to second-chance opportunities.

With the win, Virginia improved to 17-3 overall and 7-2 in the ACC, bouncing back from a home loss to North Carolina last weekend. Notre Dame, which fought valiantly in defeat, fell to 11-10 and 3-6 in conference play. The Cavaliers travel to face Boston College on Saturday, while the Fighting Irish visit Syracuse.