Georgia Tech guard Matt Causey came around a screen, took the ball and found himself sandwiched between sophomore Luke Harangody and the sideline.
But the fifth-year senior was undaunted. He heaved the ball toward the basket anyway, watching it swish and give the Yellow Jackets a one-point lead over Notre Dame with two seconds left in the third-place game of the Paradise Jam Tournament in the Virgin Islands Monday.
The Irish got a chance to respond, but when junior guard Kyle McAlarney's jumper went in and out at the buzzer, Notre Dame suffered its second close loss in as many nights, this time 70-69 to the Ramblin' Wreck.
The Irish fell to Baylor 68-64 in the semifinals of the tournament Sunday.
Like in their loss to the Bears, Notre Dame (2-2) led much of the game Monday night - including the entire second half until Causey's fall-away three-pointer. Georgia Tech (3-2) used a 12-3 run over the last 2:30 to erase an eight-point deficit and come away with the win.
The Yellow Jackets made four straight 3-point attempts during that span, with Causey making two and junior guard Lewis Clinch draining the other two.
For the night, Georgia Tech was 10-of-17 from behind the arc and just 17-of-42 from inside it.
Clinch, senior forward Jeremis Smith and senior guard Anthony Morrow led the Yellow Jackets with 12 points each. Causey added 11.
Harangody had his second straight 20-point game for the Irish. After pouring in 22 Sunday night, the sophomore forward scored that number again on Monday, while adding 12 rebounds.
Senior forward Rob Kurz had 15 against the Yellow Jackets, joining him and Harangody in double figures were junior forward Zach Hillesland (12) and sophomore point guard Tory Jackson (10).
The game was sloppy from start to finish. Each team finished with more than 20 turnovers, and the Yellow Jackets were whistled for 26 fouls.
Georgia Tech jumped out to an early 6-2 lead, but Notre Dame went up 7-6 on a McAlarney lay-up and held the lead until Causey's shot with two seconds to go.
The Yellow Jackets finished in third place in the Paradise Jam, while the Irish took fourth.
Notre Dame will return home after Thanksgiving to play Youngstown State Saturday at the Joyce Center.
