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Columbus, OH – The Ohio State Buckeyes hosted a Sunday afternoon game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at The Schottenstein Center. The Buckeyes came in undefeated at 3-0 after defeating Appalachian State 75-53 on Tuesday. Ohio State faced its first real test of the season against Notre Dame, who also came in at 3-0 this season. It was a tight physical battle through both halves as the Buckeyes were able to score a go-ahead basket by 7’0 senior center Christoph Tilly with 13 seconds left and get a final stop defensively to secure the 64-63 win at home in dramatic fashion.
The Buckeyes were led by their 6’2 senior guard Bruce Thornton, who orchestrated the offense playing the full 40 minutes. Notre Dame showed strong pressure against the senior guard as he had to battle for each of his hard-earned baskets in both halves. Thornton continued to showcase his scoring ability and his status as one of the best pure scoring point guards in the country. He demonstrated the ability to create for himself off the dribble on basket drives and knows when he has enough space to take a step-back jumper. Due to his strong muscular frame, there really isn’t a shot that Thornton can’t convert. Despite the pressure that Thornton faced defensively all game, he hardly wavered, showing he truly has the make and model of a true professional point guard. Thornton was a constant presence for the Scarlet and Gray, finishing with a team-high 24 points, shooting 8-of-15 from the field and 4-of-7 from deep.
While others struggled to shoot versus Notre Dame’s pesky defensive pressure, Ohio State got a huge lift from their center Christoph Tilly, who finished with 18 points. Tilly’s most impressive attributes are his ability to attack downhill off the dribble and his use of his size to convert against physical contact. He was very aggressive all game, earning many trips to the free-throw line and converting a robust 10-of-13 from the charity stripe. Tilly has a strong shot mechanic and form on his free throws. He did attempt a couple of three-pointers, which he didn’t convert, but showed a promising shooting stroke on the catch-and-shoot, where he could add this shot in the future. Tilly showed down the stretch multiple times that he wanted the ball in his hands as he attacked, putting pressure on the Notre Dame defense. His most notable play came at the end of the game when he attacked down the middle of the lane and showed his strength and balance on his challenging layup with 13 seconds left in the game to give Ohio State the lead.
Outside of Thornton, Ohio State’s guards didn’t shoot the ball well as they struggled to create space versus Notre Dame’s strong defense. 6’1 sophomore shooting guard John Mobley Jr. really struggled to convert his shots offensively, only shooting 2-of-10 from the field. Mobley Jr. made two three-pointers, showcasing his quick-trigger shooting mechanics that earned him heavy recruiting interest. He showed he can convert off the dribble, forcing the defense to collapse and drawing fouls, finishing with nine points.
Ohio State also have intriguing prospects in 6’6 junior forward Devin Royal and 6’8 freshman forward Amare Bynum. Royal struggled from the floor in this game, and it showed in his motor and attitude. He did secure five rebounds and showcased his speed and ball-handling in transition. Bynum is a confident, physical freshman forward who uses his strength well to finish through contact at the basket. He has a relentless motor and aggressive attitude to his game that is contagious on the floor. Bynum may have only had four points, but every play he was involved in was an explosive finish.
For Notre Dame, they were led by 6’0 junior point guard Markus Burton with 14 points. Offensively, Notre Dame spread the wealth as three players got into double-digit scoring. Burton may be undersized, but that doesn’t stop him from driving into the paint and converting at the rim. He is an aggressive point guard with a quick burst and fluid ball-handling. Burton didn’t shoot well from the field, but demonstrated many positive attributes as the lead point guard.
6’7 freshman guard Jalen Haralson finished with 13 points, shooting 5-of-10 from the field. Haralson displayed his bothersome defense throughout the game, demonstrating he is a pressure defender He led the team with three steals. 6’4 junior guard Braeden Shrewsberry also contributed for the Irish with 11 points, showing a strong shooting stroke, hitting two three-pointers, and securing four defensive rebounds. The biggest standout player for Notre Dame was 6’8 graduate forward Carson Towt, who secured a game-high 12 boards while adding eight points. Towt is a smart forward who understands how to find the holes in the defense, cutting to open space for easy inside finishes. Another fascinating prospect for Notre Dame is 6’6 sophomore guard Sir Mohammed, who played with impressive speed and balance, converting through contact in the post and being crafty and creative with his finishes. Notre Dame certainly has a handful of interesting and skilled prospects to keep an eye on throughout this 2025-26 season.
Despite Notre Dame’s strong defensive efforts and fluid offensive attack, the Buckeyes were able to pull out the gritty win at home Sunday afternoon, 64-63, to remain undefeated at 4-0.
This article was written by Nate Koesel, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter.
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