Eric Boggs
The Ohio State Buckeyes came within reach of a résumé-boosting victory but ultimately could not finish, falling 70–66 to the Virginia Cavaliers after a late offensive drought stalled what had been a spirited performance. For much of the afternoon, Ohio State looked poised to secure a signature win, fueled by a spectacular outing from Bruce Thornton, whose 28 points nearly carried the Buckeyes across the line before the offense went cold in the final minutes.
Ohio State started confidently despite the absence of injured guard John Mobley Jr., whose hand injury will sideline him indefinitely after starting the first 24 games and averaging 15.1 points while shooting 40 percent from three. Into that void stepped Taison Chatman, who earned his first career start and immediately justified the decision with poised shot-making and playmaking that sparked a 9–0 opening run. Contributions from Amare Bynum, who scored 15, helped offset the missing production, though an off night from Devin Royal, who fouled out after shooting 2-for-12, proved costly.
Virginia’s balance eventually tilted the contest. Guard Malik Thomas led the Cavaliers with 13 points, while Sam Lewis and Chance Mallory added 12 apiece. Inside, Ugonna Onyenso controlled the paint with 10 rebounds and four blocks, including a decisive rejection of Thornton in the final seconds that sealed the outcome. Depth also favored Virginia, which rotated nine players for at least 15 minutes, a contrast that showed as Ohio State managed just seven points over the final 10 minutes.
Still, there were encouraging signs for Buckeye supporters. Thornton’s shot-making was elite throughout, and his continued climb toward Dennis Hopson’s school scoring record—he now sits 119 points away—underscores his place among the program’s most productive guards. Head coach Jake Diebler also maintained his flawless record on replay challenges, winning another key review that briefly preserved momentum in the second half.
The loss dropped Ohio State to 16-9 overall, but it did little to diminish the fight shown against one of the nation’s top teams. The matchup marked the first meeting between the programs in a decade, dating back to a 2016 contest during the final season of former coach Thad Matta.
Mobley’s absence now becomes the central storyline as the Buckeyes pursue an NCAA Tournament berth. With forward Brandon Noel already sidelined by a foot injury, Ohio State will need increased production from reserves such as Gabe Cupps, Puff Johnson and Ivan Njegovan, while Chatman shoulders a heavier offensive load in the starting lineup.
The schedule offers little time to regroup, as the Buckeyes next face the Wisconsin Badgers in Columbus to close a grueling five-games-in-12-days stretch. With three Quad 1 opportunities still ahead and a recent win over the USC Trojans already in hand, Ohio State’s postseason hopes remain intact—but only if the Buckeyes can rediscover late-game execution and withstand their mounting injury adversity.
