COLUMBUS, Ohio (Interstat) — In a tense, defensive struggle that came down to the final possession, the Ohio State Buckeyes escaped with a 64-63 victory over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in a non-conference men’s basketball game Sunday at Value City Arena.

A crowd of 12,357 watched as the Buckeyes remained undefeated on the young season, improving to 4-0, while the Fighting Irish suffered their first loss, falling to 3-1.

The game was ultimately decided by a single point in a contest where neither team could establish a significant lead. The largest advantage for either side was just six points, and the lead changed hands eight times in a second half characterized by grinding possessions and critical free throws.

Ohio State’s Bruce Thornton was the catalyst for the Buckeyes, delivering a game-high 24 points. The 6-foot-2 guard from Fairburn, Georgia, played 39 minutes and hit clutch shots throughout, including a crucial 3-pointer with just over three minutes remaining that gave Ohio State a 62-59 lead. He also went a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line.

He was ably supported by 7-foot center Christoph Tilly of Berlin, Germany, who added 18 points. Tilly’s impact was felt most at the charity stripe, where he made 12 of 14 attempts, and on defense, where he recorded two blocks, including a pivotal one in the final minutes.

Notre Dame was led by a balanced scoring effort. Jalen Haralson scored 13 points, Markus Burton added 14 and Braeden Shrewsberry chipped in 11. The Fighting Irish were anchored inside by Carson Towt, who hauled in a game-high 12 rebounds to go with his eight points.

The game was a tale of contrasting efficiencies. Notre Dame was the more effective team from the field, shooting 47 percent on 24-of-51 shooting compared to Ohio State’s 38 percent on 19-of-50. The Fighting Irish also dominated points in the paint, 38-18, and held a 15-3 advantage in fast-break points.

However, Ohio State’s success from beyond the arc and at the free-throw line proved to be the difference. The Buckeyes connected on seven 3-pointers to Notre Dame’s three. More decisively, Ohio State was nearly flawless from the foul line, converting 19 of 23 attempts for an 83 percent clip. Notre Dame, by contrast, struggled mightily, making only 12 of its 20 free throws.

Turnovers were also a critical factor, with Notre Dame committing 13 giveaways leading to 19 points for Ohio State. The Buckeyes turned the ball over nine times, which Notre Dame converted into 15 points.

The first half set the stage for the nail-biting finish, with Notre Dame taking a narrow 34-31 lead into the break. The second half was a back-and-forth affair, with neither team able to pull away.

The final sequence encapsulated the game’s tense nature. With 13 seconds left and Ohio State leading 62-61, Tilly received a pass from John Mobley and scored on a layup to extend the Buckeyes’ lead to 64-61.

Notre Dame called a timeout to advance the ball and set up a final play. Markus Burton attempted a potential game-tying 3-pointer as time expired, but the shot missed its mark, sealing the one-point victory for the home team.

The game’s final score of 127 points fell well below the pregame over/under line of 152, underscoring the defensive nature of the contest. Ohio State entered the game as an 8-point favorite according to sportsbooks and was projected by Interstat’s ELO system to have an 84.5 percent chance of winning.

Ohio State will look to continue its winning streak when it hosts Western Michigan on Thursday. Notre Dame, meanwhile, will return home to face Bellarmine on Wednesday before heading to Las Vegas for a pair of games next week.