Coach Gary Williams and the Buckeyes came into UD Arena before a wild sell-out crowd knowing this would be a close game. As Dan Christie went to the line for the Flyers in the final minutes, the Buckeyes' Dennis Hopson taunted him, putting his hands to his throat for the "choke" sign. Hopson, a Toledo native, told Christie, "Anybody from Oak Harbor starts to choke about now. It was Christie however had the last laugh, calmly sinking free throws down the stretch.

Hopson, OSU's all-time leading scorer, had 41 points to lead the Buckeyes but neither his hot hand nor his cold mouth could stop the Flyers who pulled out a 89-86 victory.