Eric Boggs
The Ohio State Buckeyes delivered one of their most determined performances of the season Friday, pushing the top-seeded Michigan Wolverines to the brink before falling 71-67 in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament.
It marked the third meeting of the season between the rivals, and while Ohio State had come up short in the previous two matchups, this time the Buckeyes came closest to pulling off the upset. Despite battling back from multiple double-digit deficits and briefly taking a second-half lead, Ohio State ultimately ran out of time in the closing moments against one of college basketball’s top teams.
Once again, Bruce Thornton led the Buckeyes offensively. Thornton finished with 22 points and four assists while continuing to shoulder much of Ohio State’s scoring load. Devin Royal added 13 points and John Mobley Jr. contributed 12 as Ohio State fought to keep pace with Michigan’s talented lineup.
Michigan’s inside presence proved to be a major factor throughout the game. Seven-foot-three center Aday Mara dominated the paint with 17 points, seven rebounds and two blocks, creating consistent problems for the Buckeyes’ interior defense. Guard Elliot Cadeau added 15 points while Trey McKenney chipped in 12 as the Wolverines improved to 30-2 on the season.
Michigan wasted little time establishing control early in the contest. The Wolverines opened the game on a hot shooting stretch, hitting seven of their first 10 shots to build a quick 15-5 advantage. McKenney’s early three-pointer highlighted the opening surge, forcing Ohio State to play from behind almost immediately.
The Buckeyes responded with the kind of resilience that has defined much of their late-season push. Royal and Thornton combined to spark a run that trimmed the deficit, while Mobley helped keep Ohio State within reach with a series of aggressive drives and a deep three-pointer. As the half progressed, Thornton continued attacking the defense and knocked down a step-back three to cut Michigan’s lead to just two points.
Michigan answered with a late burst before halftime, including a fast-break dunk from Mara and free throws from Cadeau following an Ohio State turnover against the Wolverines’ pressure defense. But Thornton’s floater just before the buzzer helped keep the Buckeyes within striking distance as they headed into the locker room trailing 39-35.
Ohio State carried that momentum into the second half. Mobley opened the period with a flurry of scoring, hitting three straight shots and setting up Christoph Tilly for a layup that tied the game at 44. For a brief stretch, the Buckeyes looked poised to seize full control.
Michigan quickly responded, however, using Mara’s interior dominance to launch a 7-0 run that restored the Wolverines’ lead. Ohio State refused to fade. An unexpected scoring burst from Gabe Cupps, combined with another three-pointer from Thornton, pulled the Buckeyes back within a single point midway through the half.
The turning point came during a defensive surge from Ohio State. The Buckeyes held Michigan without a field goal for roughly six minutes and capitalized with a 10-1 run. Tilly pushed the pace for a coast-to-coast layup, Thornton added free throws, and Royal buried a three-pointer that gave Ohio State its first lead of the afternoon at 61-60.
But the advantage proved short-lived. Michigan responded with transition scoring from Morez Johnson Jr. and Cadeau, while Mara and forward Yaxel Lendeborg added key points during a stretch in which Ohio State missed seven consecutive field-goal attempts. Royal eventually ended the drought with a late basket to bring the Buckeyes within two points at 69-67, but Lendeborg sealed the outcome with two free throws in the closing seconds.
Despite the loss, Ohio State’s effort against one of the nation’s best teams reinforced the progress the Buckeyes have made late in the season. Thornton also added a notable milestone during the game, becoming Ohio State’s all-time leading scorer in the Big Ten Tournament.
Now the Buckeyes turn their attention to Selection Sunday. With 21 wins and a strong showing in the conference tournament, Ohio State is widely expected to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament when the bracket is revealed Sunday evening on CBS. For a team that fought through adversity throughout the season, the opportunity to continue its run in March remains firmly within reach.
