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Christoph Tilly's shot leads Ohio State past Notre Dame in thriller: Replay
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- Christoph Tilly's shot leads Ohio State past Notre Dame in thriller: Replay
Ohio State pulled out all the stops off the court for its Nov. 16 home game against Notre Dame. The Buckeyes honored Jerry Lucas, flipped the center court logo to the script Buckeyes for the first time and even shot off pyrotechnics during the pregame festivities.
On the court, the Buckeyes eventually got enough of them – and the biggest one of the game.
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John Mobley Jr. forced Markus Burton to miss a layup with 29 seconds, giving Ohio State the ball while trailing 63-62. The Buckeyes called timeout with 23.8 seconds left, got the ball to Christoph Tilly and his layup with 13.0 seconds left was the game-winner. Burton missed a 3 at the buzzer and Ohio State (4-0) celebrated a 64-63 win against the Fighting Irish (3-1).
With Notre Dame frequently getting to the paint and connecting, Ohio State trailed by as many as 11 points and was down 44-37 with 15:53 to play when its defense was able to string together its significant first run of stops. When Christoph Tilly made two free throws with 10:12 left, it capped an 11-2 run for the Buckeyes that gave them a 48-46 lead – their first since it was 6-5 in the early going.
During that run, Ohio State kept Notre Dame scoreless on nine of 10 possessions while chipping away at the lead. It put the Buckeyes in position to build a 59-53 lead with 6:38 to play, but Notre Dame answered with a 6-0 run to tie the game with 4:18 left and set up a tense finish.
Tilly finished with 18 points, trailing only Ohio State's Bruce Thornton. Ohio State is 4-0 for the first time since the 2020-21 season.
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Follow along with all of the live game action at our Dispatch live blog below.
Notre Dame takes lead back at Ohio State
The Buckeyes led by three and had Christoph Tilly at the line for two free throws, but he missed both and Bruce Thornton has turned it over on consecutive possessions to help fuel a 4-0 spurt from Notre Dame that has the Irish ahead 63-62 with 1:36 to play.
Christoph Tilly going to the line with Ohio State ahead at final media timeout
Ohio State's center is playing with four fouls, but he's going to the line for two free throws with 3:24 to play and the Buckeyes ahead 62-59. Tilly has 16 points and is 10 for 11 from the charity stripe.
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Buckeyes lead in final minutes
A Bruce Thornton baseline jumper pushed Ohio State ahead 59-53, and it's a 59-58 lead with five minutes still to play.
Ohio State pulls even with Notre Dame
Christoph Tilly hit two free throws with 11:07 remaining, pulling Ohio State into a 46-all tie with Notre Dame.
Notre Dame leads by two near the midpoint of second half
Amare Bynum's 3-pointer did everything but fall through the net, and instead of a 47-46 Ohio State lead the Buckeyes trail the Fighting Irish 46-44 with 11:47 to play.
Ohio State has managed to string together a few stops. Notre Dame has not scored on five of its last six possessions, but the Buckeyes haven't been able to overcome the seven-point deficit they had when the defensive run started.
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Ohio State has had three chances to take the lead in the last few minutes but has gotten a Bynum turnover, the Bynum 3-point miss and a Taison Chatman running floater miss.
Ohio State claws closer, but Notre Dame still leads
Bruce Thornton hit a 3-pointer, then came up with a high-flying defensive rebound to start a break the other way with Ohio State within 44-42. He pushed the ball to freshman Amare Bynum at the left wing, but Bynum shuffled his feet before dribbling to give the ball back to the Irish.
Markus Burton then scored on a floater in the paint to push his team's lead back to four points at 46-42. Thornton has 19 points
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Notre Dame expands lead at first timeout of second half
Ohio State was within two points on two occasions in the early going, but Notre Dame has pushed its lead back up to seven points with a free throw pending and 15:53 remaining. The Fighting Irish are shooting 60.0% from the floor (18 for 30) and are 4 for 6 (66.7%) this half.
Ohio State trails Notre Dame 34-31 at halftime
For the first time this year, the Buckeyes will go into the locker room with a deficit on the scoreboard.
Bruce Thornton's driving floater with about four seconds left pull Ohio State with three points after the first 20 minutes. The difference has been in the paint, where the Fighting Irish are shooting 65.0% (13 for 20) and the Buckeyes are shooting only 36.0% overall and 26.7% (4 for 15) from 3.
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Notre Dame holds off charge, keeps two-possession lead
Two Bruce Thornton free throws pulled the Buckeyes within 26-24 with 4:51 left, the closest the game had been since it was 9-6, and when Christoph Tilly forced Braeden Shrewsberry into a turnover Ohio State had the ball with a chance to take the lead.
John Mobley Jr. fired up a fadeaway, mid-range jumper that didn't fall, and after two free throws for Notre Dame Mobley then moved his feet before dribbling, turning the ball over and sending the teams to the under-4 timeout. Notre Dame leads 28-24 with 3:47 left, and Mobley is 2 for 4 from 3-point range and 0 for 3 from inside the arc.
Ohio State cuts into 11-point deficit behind Bruce Thornton
Buckeyes senior captain Bruce Thornton had missed one 3-pointer but otherwise did not have a statistic through the first 11 minutes of the game. But with Ohio State down 21-10, Thornton got in the paint and scored for his team's first points from there and his first points of the game.
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Notre Dame immediately answered, but Gabe Cupps came up with a score and then a steal, leading to a possession that quickly ended with a Thornton 3-pointer from the left wing. It's a modest 7-2 run for the Buckeyes, who now trail 23-17 and have the ball after Thornton forced a Markus Burton turnover with 7:38 left in the half.
Notre Dame builds lead near midpoint of first half
Ohio State can't get stops and can't score, a combination that has Notre Dame ahead 19-10 with 10:24 left at the under-12 media timeout. The Irish scored on six straight possessions and eight of their last 10 to turn Ohio State's 6-3 lead into a nine-point lead. That's a 16-4 run for the visitors.
The Buckeyes are 3 for 12 (25.0%) overall from the floor and 2 for 9 from 3-point range. Notre Dame is shooting 61.5% from the field and has only taken three 3-point attempts.
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At this point, Ohio State is just firing from 3 and hoping something falls.
Early turnovers a problem for Ohio State
Notre Dame leads Ohio State 11-6 at the first media timeout thanks to a rash of early turnovers from the Buckeyes. After committing only four turnovers vs. Appalachian State last time out, the Buckeyes already have four against the Fighting Irish through the first 5:50.
Notre Dame has scored on four straight possessions. Christoph Tilly is going to the line for two free throws after the timeout.
Starting lineups posted for Ohio State and Notre Dame
Here are today's starters.
Ohio State: Bruce Thornton, John Mobley Jr., Devin Royal, Brandon Noel, Christoph Tilly
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Notre Dame: Markus Burton, Braeden Shrewsberry, Sir Mohammed, Garrett Sundra, Carson Towt
On the pregame radio show, here's what coach Jake Diebler said about Royal: "We think he's going to give it a go and give it all he has. The one thing I know about Devin is he's really tough and he really cares about Ohio State. We're hoping he's going to be close to full strength."
Ohio State's players wearing Jerry Lucas shooting shirts for warmups
The Buckeyes emerged from the locker room with about 30 minutes to tip wearing white shooting shirts in honor of Jerry Lucas, who will be honored at halftime. Ohio State's players have long sleeve shirts with Lucas' No. 11, which hangs in the rafters here, and his last name on the back.
Devin Royal looks good to go against Notre Dame
Ohio State has concluded the early part of its warmups and junior wing Devin Royal looked no worse for the wear after missing the Appalachian State game Nov. 11 with a hip injury.
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Royal was joking with teammates, dribbling up and down the court and taking some mid-range jumpers as the Buckeyes went through the individual, less-formal part of warmups.
Video: Pregame thoughts as Ohio State hosts Notre Dame
Devin Royal upgraded to questionable for game
After missing Ohio State's win against Appalachian State on Nov. 11, junior forward Devin Royal is now listed as questionable for the Notre Dame game as he deals with a hip injury.
On Nov. 14, coach Jake Diebler was asked about Royal's availability against the Fighting Irish.
"Certainly hopeful, and prayerful, and all that," he said. "He's making progress. It's too early for me to stamp it one way or another, but he's progressing."
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Ohio State will honor Jerry Lucas
A weekend of appreciation will culminate for Ohio State's Jerry Lucas at halftime of this game. After having a statue unveiled outside of Value City Arena on Nov. 14 and helping ring the Victory Bell before the football game against UCLA on Nov. 15, Lucas will dot the 'i' as the fall athletic band performs "Script Ohio" at halftime of the game.
Ohio State vs Notre Dame score updates
This section will be updated when the game begins.
Ohio State vs. Notre Dame time today
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Date: Sunday, Nov. 16
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Start time: 12:30 p.m. ET
The Ohio State vs Notre Dame game starts at 12:30 p.m. from Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
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What channel is Ohio State vs. Notre Dame on today?
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TV Channel:FS1
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Livestream:Fox Sports App
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Radio: WBNS-FM (97.1)
Ohio State vs Notre Dame will stream nationally on FS1 in the fourth game of the 2025-26 men's son Jarrell will call the game from Value City Arena. The game will only be streaming on B1G+.
Stream Ohio State vs. Notre Dame
Ohio State vs Notre Dame history
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Series record:Ohio State leads 9-5
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Ohio State's last win:Dec. 8, 2020 (90-85, at Notre Dame)
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Notre Dame's last win: Nov. 16, 1999 (59-57, Preseason NIT, at Ohio State)
Ohio State vs Notre Dame predictions, picks, odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Sunday, Nov. 1 6
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Spread:Ohio State by 8.5
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Over/under:152.5
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Moneyline:Ohio State (-375); Notre Dame (+300)
Ohio State Buckeyes forward Brandon Noel (14) dunks in front of Appalachian State Mountaineers guard Eren Banks (4) during the NCAA men's basketball game at Value City Arena in Columbus on Nov. 11, 2025. Ohio State won 75-53.
Ohio State men's basketball schedule
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Oct. 26 - Ohio University (exhibition) W, 103-74 ( takeaways )
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Nov. 3 - IU Indy, W, 118-102 ( takeaways )
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Nov. 7 - Purdue Fort Wayne, W, 94-68 ( takeaways )
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Nov. 11 - Appalachian State, W 75-53 ( takeaways )
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Nov. 16 - Notre Dame
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Nov. 20 - Western Michigan
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Nov. 25 - Mount St. Mary's
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Nov. 28 - at Pitt
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Dec. 6 - at Northwestern
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Dec. 9 - Illinois
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Dec. 13 - vs. West Virginia (Cleveland Hoops Showdown, Cleveland)
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Dec. 20 - vs. North Carolina (CBS Sports Classic, Atlanta)
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Dec. 23 - Grambling State
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Jan. 2 - at Rutgers
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Jan. 5 - Nebraska
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Jan. 8 - at Oregon
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Jan. 11 - at Washington
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Jan. 17 - UCLA
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Jan. 20 - Minnesota
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Jan. 23 - at Michigan
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Jan. 26 - Penn State
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Jan. 31 - at Wisconsin
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Feb. 5 - at Maryland
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Feb. 8 - Michigan
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Feb. 11 - USC
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Feb. 14 - vs. Virginia (Nashville Hoops Showdown, Nashville)
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Feb. 17 - Wisconsin
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Feb. 22 - at Michigan State
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Feb. 25 - at Iowa
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March 1 - Purdue
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March 4 - at Penn State
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March 7 - Indiana
Buy Ohio State vs. Ohio men's basketball tickets
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Ohio State's Bruce Thornton talking trash , playing freer and ready for his senior year
Ohio State men's basketball beat writer Adam Jardy can be reached at ajardy@dispatch.com, on Bluesky at @ cdadamjardy.bsky.social or on Twitter at @ AdamJardy .
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Christoph Tilly's game-winner leads Ohio State past Notre Dame: Replay
