Eric Boggs
Playing without three key contributors and facing a ranked opponent on the road, Ohio State showed resilience and toughness but ultimately lacked the depth to finish the job in a 66-60 loss to the Michigan State Spartans. The Buckeyes dropped to 17-10 overall and 9-7 in Big Ten play despite a heroic performance from Bruce Thornton, whose 32-point outing nearly carried his depleted squad to an upset.
Ohio State entered the game missing John Mobley Jr., Devin Royal and Brandon Noel due to injury or illness, forcing the Buckeyes to rely heavily on Thornton and a shortened rotation. The senior guard delivered one of the most determined efforts of his career, accounting for more than half of Ohio State’s first-half points and repeatedly answering Michigan State scoring runs to keep the contest within reach.
The opening half unfolded exactly as the Buckeyes needed given their circumstances: slow, physical and defensively focused. Both teams combined for just six points in the first four minutes as Ohio State’s zone defense frustrated the Spartans into a prolonged scoring drought. Thornton took control early, scoring 10 of Ohio State’s first 14 points and capping an 8-0 run with a three-pointer that gave the Buckeyes a 14-9 lead. Interior finishes from Ivan Njegovan and Christoph Tilly stretched the advantage to six before Michigan State trimmed the margin late. Thornton closed the half with a pair of floaters to finish with 16 of Ohio State’s 26 points, while the Buckeye defense held the Spartans to 29.6 percent shooting before the break.
Michigan State adjusted after halftime and gradually asserted control. An early Thornton jumper briefly pushed Ohio State’s lead back to five, but the Spartans answered with an 8-0 run highlighted by crisp ball movement and interior finishes. From that point forward, the Buckeyes were forced to chase. Taison Chatman and Tilly supplied timely baskets to keep the margin tight, yet Michigan State’s depth began to show as the game wore on. A late 6-0 run pushed the Spartans’ advantage to double digits with under three minutes remaining, a stretch fueled by second-chance opportunities and steady interior production from Carson Cooper, who finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds.
Even then, Ohio State refused to fold. Thornton sparked a late push with a free throw and acrobatic layup, Tilly converted a transition opportunity, and another Thornton drive trimmed the deficit to 63-60 with just 14 seconds left. But time ran out before the comeback could be completed, and Michigan State closed the game at the free-throw line.
Despite the loss, Thornton continued his climb up the Ohio State record books. His performance pushed him to 2,037 career points, moving him past Herb Williams for second place on the program’s all-time scoring list and leaving him just 60 points shy of Dennis Hopson’s school record. He also sits within striking distance of another milestone, needing only five assists to pass Kelvin Ransey for fourth in career assists.
The Buckeyes now turn their focus to another demanding road test as they travel to face the Iowa Hawkeyes, a Quad 1 opportunity that could prove critical for postseason positioning.
