Notre Dame Falls to Kansas in Las Vegas Showdown

LAS VEGAS – Notre Dame men’s basketball faced off against Kansas on Monday, November 24, 2025, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. In their effort during the Players Era and Feast Week, the Fighting Irish (4-2) started strong but couldn’t maintain their momentum, falling to the Jayhawks (4-2) 61-71.

Markus Burton led Notre Dame with a game-high 24 points, shooting 9-18 from the field and 6-6 from the free-throw line. Jalen Haralson added 13 points and five rebounds, while Braeden Shrewsberry contributed nine points. Carson Towt was a standout in rebounding, leading all players with 10 boards, averaging 12.2 rebounds per game this season.

The Irish jumped to an early 9-5 lead, buoyed by plays from Burton, Towt, and Haralson. However, momentum shifted dramatically after an upgraded flagrant foul against Notre Dame allowed Kansas to launch a 9-0 run, taking a 22-15 lead. By halftime, Notre Dame trailed 32-39 despite a late push, including a trio of shutout defensive plays.

After the break, the Irish struggled with their shooting, especially from three-point range, finishing 4-24 for the game. Kansas extended their lead to as much as 13 points in the second half. Although Notre Dame fought back late, including a powerful finish from Haralson to trim the lead to eight points, they ultimately ran out of time.

In the final moments, Burton had one last layup to cut the deficit to 10 points before the final buzzer sounded. Notre Dame’s shooting struggles and missed chances proved costly as they recorded their third loss of the season.

The Irish will have a quick turnaround, facing Rutgers on Tuesday at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT on TNT, seeking to bounce back and improve their shooting performance during the Players Era.