Home / Sports / Cal Stuns Irish on Controversial Four-Point Play
Cal Stuns Irish on Controversial Four-Point Play
3 Jan
Summary
- A controversial foul call in the final seconds led to a four-point play.
- The call allowed California to take the lead with five seconds remaining.
- Notre Dame coach Micah Shrewsberry was visibly upset with the referee.
A controversial ending on January 2, 2026, saw the Notre Dame Fighting Irish lose to the California Golden Bears after a pivotal foul call in the dying seconds of the game. Notre Dame held a slim lead, but a questionable foul on a three-point attempt by Cal's Dai Dai Adams turned the tide.
The referee's initial call was a foul and a made basket, offering Adams a chance to tie. This was briefly overturned, then reinstated, leading to a four-point play that put California ahead by one point with only five seconds left. Notre Dame's final desperation shot missed, sealing their fate.
Visibly incensed by the officiating, Notre Dame coach Micah Shrewsberry immediately confronted the referee after the game's conclusion, requiring intervention from his staff and players to de-escalate the situation. This defeat marked a particularly bitter pill for the Irish, who had controlled much of the game.
