Notre Dame outlasts Butler in OT

Defense ruled Saturday's game between Notre Dame and Butler, where extra time was needed in the 67-64 win for the Fighting Irish.

They now make their first Sweet Sixteen since 2003.

Irish head coach Mike Brey was on the sidelines with a heavy heart. He announced after the game that he lost his 84-year-old mother Saturday morning to a heart attack.

"I feel she was definitely with us down the stretch," Brey said.

Pat Connaughton hit the biggest 3-pointer for the team, and denied Butler's it's best shot at a victory. 

The senior guard hit a huge shot from deep to break the tie and make it a 62-59 game in overtime after failing to connect from long range in regulation. Steve Vasturia later nailed a big 3-pointer of his own to push the lead to four.

With just two seconds on the clock in regulation, the Bulldogs found themselves in position to win the game. Guard Kellen Dunham was spotted in the corner for a 3-point attempt until Connaughton landed an emphatic game-saving rejection.

Previous to that moment the Irish appeared to have shot themselves in the foot when forward Zach Auguste was called for a double-dribble. 

He rebounded a Roosevelt Jones miss, and tried to advance the ball past mid-court to get a potential game winning shot, but was a little too anxious.

Jones's and-one layup during an 11-0 run in the second half put Butler up 43-41 for its first lead since it was ahead 8-7. 

Jones was everything for the Bulldogs, scoring 15 of his 23 points by halftime. He also had five rebounds and two steals in the wild game.

Forward Andrew Chrabascz finished the game with 20 points with three rebounds and three steals, while Dunham was underwhelming, scoring eight points on 2-of-13 shooting.

Auguste had seven points with 13 rebounds and a block while Fighting Irish guard Jerian Grant finished with 16 points with five rebounds and five assists.

Vasutria had a career-high 20 points, while Connaughton finished with just seven points, but he also contributed with nine rebounds and five blocks.

Next on the docket for the Irish is a date in the Sweet Sixteen with the winner of Sunday's heated Kansas-Wichita State game.