Both Coaches ‘Lose Their Minds’ in Wild Finish to Notre Dame-Cal Basketball Game [WATCH]

A tense and chaotic scene unfolded at the conclusion of Notre Dame’s 72-71 loss to the California Golden Bears, as Fighting Irish head coach Micah Shrewsberry and sophomore guard Cole Certa appeared to pursue an on-court official following a disputed call that decided the game in the final seconds.

The confrontation came immediately after the final buzzer, with players and coaches stepping in to restrain both Shrewsberry and Certa as emotions spilled over.

The incident was captured on the game broadcast, where commentators speculated about the moment that triggered the visible frustration.

“It looked like he was going after one of the officials. My guess? His frustration on the and-one, four-play by Dai Dai Ames,” the broadcaster said.

A wild scene following Cal’s 72-71 win over Notre Dame. Micah Shrewsberry loses his mind and tries to go after an official. pic.twitter.com/isIIQGnlvh

— Matt Freeman (@mattfreeman05_) January 3, 2026

The game itself was decided in dramatic fashion after a sequence of late plays that swung momentum rapidly.

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Notre Dame appeared to have control in the closing seconds when Certa converted a layup to give the Fighting Irish a 67-63 lead.

California responded quickly, narrowing the deficit and setting up a final possession that would ultimately determine the outcome.

On that decisive possession, Cal guard Dai Dai Ames launched a three-pointer.

As the shot fell, a foul was called on Notre Dame, creating a four-point play opportunity that immediately altered the game’s trajectory.

Officials initially reversed the foul call, briefly appearing to nullify the free throw attempt.

However, after further review, the reversal itself was overturned, reinstating the foul and sending Ames to the free throw line.

Ames converted the free throw, giving the Golden Bears the lead.

Notre Dame had one final opportunity to respond, but its last shot attempt fell short, sealing the one-point loss.

As the horn sounded, Certa could be seen walking directly toward one of the officials, while Shrewsberry moved quickly toward the same area of the court.

Teammates and staff intervened, holding both back before the situation escalated further.

The official involved turned briefly to observe the commotion and then exited the court without engaging in any confrontation.

Fighting Irish coach Micah Shrewsberry tried to confront an official after Notre Dame’s loss to Cal following this four-point play. pic.twitter.com/zai9rriAfU

— ESPN (@espn) January 3, 2026

The emotional reaction reflected the significance of the moment for a Notre Dame team that had fought through a tightly contested game and saw its chances undone by a late ruling.

The loss dropped the Fighting Irish to 10-5 on the season and 1-1 in conference play.

Certa, who was central to the closing moments of the game, has taken on an expanded role in his second season with the program.

After averaging 8.1 minutes per game last year, he is now playing 20.3 minutes per contest.

Through the current stretch of the season, Certa is averaging nine points and 1.4 rebounds per game while shooting 37.9 percent from the field.

Shrewsberry, who took over as head coach ahead of the 2023-24 season, remains in the early stages of his tenure in South Bend.

Across parts of three seasons, he holds a career record of 38-43 and has yet to guide the Fighting Irish to an NCAA Tournament appearance.

Saturday’s loss added another close finish to a season that has included several tight contests, though this one stood out for its dramatic ending and the postgame scene that followed.

While no disciplinary action was announced in the immediate aftermath, the confrontation drew attention to the intensity surrounding the disputed call and the pressure of late-game officiating in a one-point contest.

Notre Dame will look to regroup as conference play continues, while the final moments of the loss to Cal are likely to remain a focal point of discussion surrounding officiating decisions and sideline conduct in closely contested college basketball games.

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