COLUMBUS, Ohio (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle decided at the free-throw line, Bruce Thornton’s game-high 24 points propelled the Ohio State Buckeyes to a narrow 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, improving to 4-0, while the Fighting Irish suffered their first loss of the season, dropping to 3-1.

The game was a tale of contrasting efficiencies. While Notre Dame dominated inside, outscoring Ohio State 38-18 in the paint and shooting a higher percentage from the field, its inability to convert from the charity stripe proved decisive. The Fighting Irish shot just 12 for 20 on free throws, leaving crucial points on the board in a one-point contest. Conversely, Ohio State capitalized on its opportunities, making 19 of 23 free-throw attempts.

Thornton, a guard from Fairburn, Georgia, was the steadying force for the Buckeyes, playing 39 minutes and adding four rebounds and two assists. His backcourt partner, Christoph Tilly, provided a massive interior presence. The 7-foot freshman from Berlin, Germany, scored 18 points, including several key free throws down the stretch, and recorded two blocks.

Notre Dame was led by a balanced scoring attack. Jalen Haralson scored 13 points, Markus Burton added 14 and Braeden Shrewsberry chipped in 11. The Fighting Irish’s work on the glass was led by Carson Towt, who hauled in a game-high 12 rebounds to go with eight points.

The first half was a tightly contested affair, with Notre Dame taking a 34-31 lead into the break. The Fighting Irish maintained their advantage for much of the second half, but Ohio State’s persistence at the free-throw line and timely defensive stops allowed them to chip away.

The game’s decisive sequence came in the final 30 seconds. With Ohio State trailing 62-61, Tilly scored on a layup off an assist from John Mobley with 13 seconds remaining to put the Buckeyes ahead 63-62. After a Notre Dame timeout, Markus Burton’s potential game-winning 3-point attempt as time expired missed the mark, sealing the outcome for Ohio State.

Beyond the free-throw disparity, turnovers were a critical factor. Notre Dame committed 13 turnovers, which Ohio State converted into 19 points. The Buckeyes gave the ball away nine times, leading to 15 points for the Irish.

The game was an offensive grind for both teams. Notre Dame managed an offensive rating of 89.4 points per 100 possessions on 70 trips, while Ohio State was only slightly more efficient at 92.9 points on 69 possessions. The Buckeyes offset a poor shooting afternoon from the field by connecting on 7 of 23 attempts from 3-point range, compared to just 3 of 10 for Notre Dame.

Ohio State will look to continue its winning streak when it hosts Western Michigan on Thursday. Notre Dame aims to rebound at home against Bellarmine on Wednesday.