Bruce Thornton scores 24, Christoph Tilly's late basket gives Ohio State 64-63 win over Notre Dame
AP
Nov 16, 2025
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Bruce Thornton had 24 points and Christoph Tilly scored 14 of his 18 in the second half, culminating with a drive down the lane for a contested layup with 13 seconds to go that gave Ohio State Buckeyes a 64-63 win over Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Sunday.
The Buckeyes had missed 6 of 7 shots after building a six-point lead with 6 1/2 minutes to play but the 7-foot Tilly went strong to the basket, taking one dribble from the 3-point line at the top of the key and scoring over two defenders.
Markus Burton was off the mark on a 3-ipointer as time expired. The Irish shot 1 for 7 in the last 3 1/2 minutes, but the make was a jumper by Braeden Shrewsberry for a 63-62 lead with 2:08 to play.
It was the first game against a Power 4 opponent for the Buckeyes (4-0). Ohio State shot 38% but made 19 of 23 from the free-throw line, including 10 of 13 by Tilly.
Burton scored 14 points for the Irish (3-1), but was 3 of 14 from the field and 8 of 9 from the foul line. Jalen Haralson added 13 points and Shrewsberry scored 11.
Notre Dame shot 47% but was just 12 of 20 from the foul line.
Haralson had 10 points off the bench and the Irish shot 58% to lead the Buckeyes 34-31 at halftime.
An early 18-4 run gave Notre Dame a 21-10 lead midway through the first half. The Buckeyes battled back, despite shooting just 38%.
Notre Dame was up seven when Thornton hit a jumper and a 3-pointer, part of eight straight points for the Buckeyes, and then Tilly made four free throws to complete a 13-2 run that made it 48-46 midway through the second half. It was first lead for Ohio State since the opening five minutes.
Four free throws and a Thornton jumper gave the Buckeyes their biggest lead 59-53 at 6:38, Haralson had a three-point play and the Irish tied it at 59.
The game was the wrap-up of Jerry Lucas Legacy Weekend that included a statue unveiling outside the arena on Friday for the two-time NCAA Player of the Year.
The Irish return home to face Bellarmine on Wednesday and the Buckeyes continue their six-game homestand against Western Michigan on Thursday.
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1st Half
ND
Fighting Irish
34
OSU
Buckeyes
31
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Carson Towt vs. Christoph Tilly (John Mobley Jr. gains possession)
19:55
John Mobley Jr. misses three point jump shot
19:53
Carson Towt defensive rebound
19:30
Markus Burton misses two point jump shot
19:28
Devin Royal defensive rebound
19:03
John Mobley Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Garrett Sundra steals)
18:50
Braeden Shrewsberry misses two point jump shot
18:48
Devin Royal defensive rebound
18:35
Christoph Tilly turnover (traveling)
18:31
+3
Garrett Sundra makes three point jump shot (Carson Towt assists)
3-0
18:17
+3
John Mobley Jr. makes three point jump shot (Brandon Noel assists)
3-3
17:50
Markus Burton turnover (bad pass) (Brandon Noel steals)
17:40
Bruce Thornton misses three point jump shot
17:38
Garrett Sundra defensive rebound
17:16
Carson Towt turnover (traveling)
16:46
Buckeyes turnover (shot clock violation)
16:32
Sir Mohammed misses three point jump shot
16:30
Carson Towt offensive rebound
16:24
Brandon Noel blocks Markus Burton's two point layup
16:22
Brandon Noel defensive rebound
16:08
+3
Devin Royal makes three point jump shot (Christoph Tilly assists)
3-6
15:52
+2
Garrett Sundra makes two point jump shot (Markus Burton assists)
5-6
15:40
Christoph Tilly misses three point jump shot
15:38
Sir Mohammed defensive rebound
15:24
+2
Sir Mohammed makes two point layup
7-6
15:09
Christoph Tilly misses two point layup
15:07
Carson Towt defensive rebound
15:00
+2
Carson Towt makes two point layup (Sir Mohammed assists)
9-6
14:51
Devin Royal turnover (lost ball) (Braeden Shrewsberry steals)
14:37
+2
Markus Burton makes two point layup
11-6
14:11
Garrett Sundra shooting foul (Christoph Tilly draws the foul)
14:11
TV timeout
14:11
+1
Christoph Tilly makes regular free throw 1 of 2
11-7
14:11
+1
Christoph Tilly makes regular free throw 2 of 2
11-8
13:59
+2
Jalen Haralson makes two point jump shot
13-8
13:33
Christoph Tilly misses three point jump shot
13:31
Braeden Shrewsberry defensive rebound
13:09
+2
Kebba Njie makes two point layup
15-8
12:51
+2
Christoph Tilly makes two point layup
15-10
12:31
Markus Burton turnover (bad pass) (Colin White steals)
12:16
John Mobley Jr. misses two point jump shot
12:14
Kebba Njie defensive rebound
12:05
Christoph Tilly shooting foul (Markus Burton draws the foul)
12:05
+1
Markus Burton makes regular free throw 1 of 2
16-10
12:05
+1
Markus Burton makes regular free throw 2 of 2
17-10
11:35
Colin White misses three point jump shot
11:33
Kebba Njie defensive rebound
11:16
Kebba Njie misses three point jump shot
11:14
Gabe Cupps defensive rebound
11:02
Gabe Cupps misses three point jump shot
11:00
Brady Koehler defensive rebound
10:45
+2
Jalen Haralson makes two point jump shot
19-10
10:29
Amare Bynum misses three point jump shot
10:27
Buckeyes offensive rebound
10:27
TV timeout
10:21
Devin Royal misses two point layup
10:19
Brady Koehler defensive rebound
9:49
Jalen Haralson misses two point layup
9:47
Gabe Cupps defensive rebound
9:24
Gabe Cupps turnover (lost ball) (Logan Imes steals)
9:16
+2
Logan Imes makes two point layup
21-10
8:59
Jalen Haralson personal foul (Devin Royal draws the foul)
8:54
+2
Bruce Thornton makes two point jump shot
21-12
8:46
+2
Jalen Haralson makes two point jump shot
23-12
8:26
+2
Gabe Cupps makes two point layup
23-14
8:15
Markus Burton turnover (lost ball) (Gabe Cupps steals)
8:08
+3
Bruce Thornton makes three point jump shot (Gabe Cupps assists)
23-17
7:38
Markus Burton turnover (carrying)
7:38
TV timeout
7:26
Markus Burton personal foul (Gabe Cupps draws the foul)
7:23
John Mobley Jr. misses three point jump shot
7:21
Carson Towt defensive rebound
7:05
Braeden Shrewsberry turnover (traveling)
6:54
Garrett Sundra personal foul (Bruce Thornton draws the foul)
6:51
+3
John Mobley Jr. makes three point jump shot (Bruce Thornton assists)
23-20
6:26
+2
Sir Mohammed makes two point jump shot
25-20
6:12
Bruce Thornton misses three point jump shot
6:10
Carson Towt defensive rebound
5:58
Carson Towt misses two point layup
5:56
Ivan Njegovan defensive rebound
5:49
Markus Burton personal foul (Bruce Thornton draws the foul)