Eric Boggs
Bruce Thornton gave Ohio State everything he had—and then some—but even one of the finest performances of his career couldn’t overcome a red-hot Illinois squad that executed at a high level from start to finish. The Buckeyes battled, fought back multiple times, and had the Schottenstein Center roaring, but ultimately fell 88-80 to No. 13 Illinois, dropping to 8-2 on the season and 1-1 in Big Ten play.
Thornton was spectacular. The senior guard delivered a dazzling 34-point performance on 13-of-17 shooting, including six made threes and a perfect 9-of-9 start from the field. His shot-making was as breathtaking as it was relentless, slicing through transition, rising over tight contests, and igniting the building with each deep-range dagger. It was the type of performance that cements a player’s legacy—and Thornton has long been the heart of this Ohio State team.
But Illinois had answers at nearly every turn. Keaton Wagler and Andrej Stojakovic were dynamic on the perimeter, David Mirkovic torched the Buckeyes from deep, and Zvonimir Ivisic added timely scoring inside. Four Illini reached double figures, and their efficiency from 3-point range—especially in the first half—kept Ohio State playing catch-up.
Early on, Thornton and Christoph Tilly did everything possible to keep the Buckeyes within reach. Thornton caught fire immediately, stepping into transition threes, burying contested looks from well beyond the arc, and turning steals into effortless coast-to-coast scores. Tilly opened the night with an offensive putback and later found success with crafty footwork in the paint. But Illinois responded with a barrage of threes, hitting four straight to seize momentum and build a 24-15 edge.
Thornton refused to let the game get away. He delivered a breathtaking personal run—hitting a baseline jumper, pump-faking a defender into the rafters for another three, flying downcourt for a layup, and knocking down yet another triple to give Ohio State a 34-33 lead. The arena erupted, chants of “Bruce” echoing throughout the Schott, celebrating a player who had nearly single-handedly flipped the game.
Then Illinois punched right back. An 11-0 run quieted the crowd and sent the Illini into halftime with a 48-42 lead.
Ohio State opened the second half with renewed energy, getting much-needed contributions from Brandon Noel, John Mobley Jr., and Amare Bynum. A double-clutch layup by Thornton tied the game at 53, but Illinois never seemed rattled. They answered each Ohio State surge with their own, behind Wagler’s perimeter scoring and efficient free-throw shooting once both teams entered the double bonus.
Fouls mounted for the Buckeyes, with Tilly eventually fouling out, and each Illini trip to the line felt like another small blow. Even when Ohio State clawed back to within one possession—such as Devin Royal’s layup that cut it to 79-76—Illinois always seemed to deliver the gut-punch bucket. Ivisic’s soft-bounce 3-pointer with 45 seconds left was the final dagger.
There were positives for Ohio State. Thornton was transcendent. Royal, Tilly, and Mobley all reached double figures, and the Buckeyes showed fight late with their full-court pressure. But shooting inconsistency, foul trouble, and Illinois’ balanced scoring made the hill too steep to climb.
Now, Ohio State turns the page quickly. Two neutral-site tests await—first against West Virginia in Cleveland, then North Carolina in Atlanta. The Buckeyes showed their grit Tuesday night, but this coming stretch will reveal even more about who they can become.
For now, Thornton’s brilliance remains the highlight of the night, even if the scoreboard didn’t fall Ohio State’s way.
