Eric Boggs
At this stage of the season, style points matter far less than survival, and on Tuesday night Ohio State proved it is learning how to win the games it absolutely cannot afford to lose. In a contest filled with momentum swings, missed opportunities and late-game drama, the Buckeyes ground out an 82-74 overtime victory over Minnesota at the Schottenstein Center, another important step forward in the grind of Big Ten play and another result that keeps Ohio State firmly in the NCAA tournament conversation.
It was tense, messy and emotionally exhausting, but it was also exactly the kind of win that builds a résumé. Ohio State improved to 13-5 overall and 5-3 in conference play, and once again leaned on its stars to get across the finish line. For the second straight game, John Mobley Jr. set the tone offensively, pouring in 26 points and knocking down five 3-pointers. Bruce Thornton followed with 23 points and delivered several of his biggest baskets late, while Devin Royal added 16 points, including critical scores in overtime.
The night began in dominant fashion for the Buckeyes. Mobley drilled a 3-pointer on the opening possession and Ohio State’s zone defense smothered Minnesota into a 10-0 hole before the first media timeout. But as has often been the case this season, the Buckeyes could not maintain that early rhythm. A flurry of missed shots opened the door for the Gophers, who responded with a 16-2 run to flip the game on its head. Mobley’s shooting steadied things, and a late Thornton floater finally broke a four-minute scoring drought to send Ohio State into halftime clinging to a 31-28 lead.
The second half followed a similar script. Ohio State again opened with purpose, pushing the margin to 11 behind strong takes from Thornton and Mobley and a three-point play from Christoph Tilly. And again, Minnesota responded. A long Buckeye scoring drought, turnovers and defensive lapses fueled a 17-3 Gopher run that left Ohio State chasing once more. Throughout the chaos, Mobley and Thornton repeatedly answered, refusing to let the game slip away.
The final minutes of regulation were a test of nerves. Every Ohio State basket was met by an answer from Minnesota’s Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, who was nearly unstoppable on his way to 26 points. With the Buckeyes up two in the final minute, Thornton finished through contact for a three-point play, only for Crocker-Johnson to tie it again. Minnesota appeared to have the game-winning layup at the horn, but Amare Bynum’s perfectly timed chase-down block saved the season’s most dramatic moment and sent the game to overtime.
In the extra period, Ohio State finally found just enough separation. Royal opened the scoring with a putback, Thornton hit another tough jumper, and then the play of the night came from an unlikely source. Colin White jumped a passing lane, went coast-to-coast and finished a layup that pushed the lead to five and shifted the energy decisively back to the Buckeyes. From there, Thornton calmly closed the door at the free-throw line and with a fadeaway jumper, sealing the 82-74 win.
It was not pretty, but it was valuable. These are the nights that matter down the stretch, the games that separate teams fighting for the tournament from those watching at home. Ohio State now turns its attention to its toughest challenge yet, a road trip to face No. 3 Michigan, carrying both momentum and the growing belief that it can survive the grind of the Big Ten and keep its postseason hopes alive.
