(photo courtesy Joseph Maiorana Imagn Images)

(Columbus) — A year ago, Notre Dame’s men’s basketball team had a penchant for losing double-digit leads and then ball games.

The Irish still haven’t broken the habit.

Micah Shrewsberry’s squad built an 11-noon at point first-half lead only to see Ohio State come all the way back and down the Irish in the final minute, 64-63, Sunday afternoon inside Value City Arena.  It’s the first loss of the season for the now 3-1 Irish.

Notre Dame came out firing on all cylinders early, hitting 8-13 from the field and playing lockdown defense on the Buckeyes to build a 21-10 lead.  But turnover and foul trouble beleaguered Notre Dame towards the end of the first half, and the Irish entered the locker room with a 34-31 halftime lead.

Braeden Shrewsberry hit a 3-point shot, and Markus Burton completed an old-fashioned three-point play to build the Irish lead back to 41-34 early in the second half, but Bruce Thornton led the Buckeyes back, as the talented guard nailed four threes on his way to a game-high 24 points.

With the Irish trailing by one, Shrewsberry scored two more of his 11 on a mid-range baseline jumper to put Notre Dame up 63-62 with 2:00 left. Burton missed a wild layup attempt with about 26 seconds left, giving Ohio State possession.

The Buckeyes turned to 7-footer Christoph Tilly who drove the left side of the lane and banked in a left-handed layup with 13 seconds remaining. Deciding not to use a timeout, Notre Dame held for the final shot and Burton missed an open three from the right of the key, as the Buckeyes celebrated advancing to 4-0 on the season.

It was not one of Burton’s better games, as the former Penn star was 3-14 from the field with 14 points. Freshman Jalen Haralson added 13.

Notre Dame returns home to face Bellarmine Wednesday night at Purcell Pavilion. Tickets are available for the 7 p.m. tipoff.