SPOKANE, Wash., March 16 (UPI) -- Craig Bradshaw had 24 points Friday in leading the Winthrop Eagles to a 74-64 NCAA Tournament upset of the 16th-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
It was the first NCAA Tournament victory in seven tries for the Eagles, who take a 19-game winning streak, 29-4 record and No. 11 Midwest Region seeding into a second-round Sunday game against either No. 18 Oregon or Miami (Ohio).
Notre Dame was sent home with a 24-8 record.
Winthrop played most of the game like a strong favorite and led by 20 much of the way. But poor free throw shooting, and Notre Dame heating up, allowed the Irish to creep back and take the lead in the final 2 1/2 minutes.
Luke Harangody hit a jumper with 2:21 to go that put the Fighting Irish ahead, 63-62, but the Eagles rallied with a Torrell Martin free throw and a Bradshaw dunk.
By the time buzzer sounded, Winthrop had scored 12 of the final 13 points of the game.
Martin backed Bradshaw with 20 points and a career-high 11 rebounds for the Eagles.
Colin Falls had 14 points, Rob Kurz 13 points and nine rebounds and Russell Carter added 12 points for Notre Dame.
