Notre Dame of Fairfield's Earl Coleman scored the game-tying basket in regulation as the Lancers beat Brookfield in overtime Tuesday night.

Photo Credit: Tom Renner

Notre Dame's Arkell Miles lines up a free throw.

Photo Credit: Tom Renner

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Notre Dame of Fairfield’s 67-64 overtime win in boys basketball over Brookfield on Tuesday was the most exciting of their 11-game winning streak. It was also its hardest.

The Lancers rallied from eight points down in the final 58 seconds to stun the Bobcats. Earl Coleman’s driving layup at the buzzer sent the game into overtime.

“I thought about shooting a three to win the game because I’m a risk-taker,’’ Coleman said. “But I saw the lane open and got to the basket.”

Notre Dame improved to 16-4 overall, while Brookfield fell to 13-7. Notre Dame has won 12 of its last 13.

Freshman C.J. Davidson delivered the biggest basket in overtime, a three-pointer to snap a 62-62 tie with 58 seconds remaining. Dan Upchurch had a brilliant game for Notre Dame, scoring 29 points, including nine in the final minute before fouling out with six seconds left in regulation. Coleman added 23. Senior Arkel Miles finished with seven points before fouling out in overtime.

Brookfield took a 56-48 lead with 58.1 seconds left on two free throws by Danny Burkhart. Upchurch scored on an old-fashioned three-point play to make it 56-51, with 53.9 seconds left. His three-pointer with 33.7 seconds left cut the Lancers’ deficit to 58-54.

Brookfield went on to miss five free throws in the final 29.8 seconds. Upchurch’s three-pointer with 24 seconds left got Notre Dame within 59-57. After Brookfield missed two free throws with 6.1 seconds left, Notre Dame secured the rebound. Coleman took the ball up the right wing, glanced at the clock and drove in for the winning basket.

“We practice those game situations every day in practice,’’ said Coleman, a junior from Norwalk. “We have heart. Everybody stepped up, and we came back to win the game.”

With Upchurch and Miles on the bench for most of the overtime, Notre Dame did not lose its poise. Coleman’s basket with 2:35 left gave the Lancers their first lead since early in the first quarter. Davidson delivered the biggest basket, and the Lancers dodged a desperation attempt at the buzzer by the Bobcats.

“It’s always nice to win on Senior night,’’ said coach Vin Laczkoski, whose team plays in the first round of the South-West Conference tournament Saturday. “It was important for us to win for state and league seeding. Sometimes, you get lucky.”