Eric Boggs
For Ohio State fans, the showdown against Pitt felt like a tale of two games — a dominant Buckeye performance for most of regulation and a gut-wrenching finish in overtime. Despite leading for nearly the entire game, the Buckeyes suffered their second loss of the season in a 91-90 overtime heartbreaker, capped off by a buzzer-beating three from Pitt forward Zack Austin.
This wasn’t just a game; it was a rollercoaster of emotions for the 5-2 Buckeyes, who saw a 12-point second-half lead evaporate and a promising overtime stretch unravel in the closing seconds.
Sophomore guard Bruce Thornton had the kind of performance that Buckeye Nation could hang their hat on, scoring 24 points and dishing out nine assists to lead the team. Thornton did everything in his power to guide Ohio State to victory, including a clutch overtime three-pointer and crucial free throws that kept the Buckeyes ahead late. Freshman forward Devin Royal continued to impress with 18 points, battling through minor injuries to deliver when it mattered. Micah Parrish chipped in 15 points, including two cold-blooded three-pointers that brought the crowd at the Schottenstein Center to its feet.
The Buckeyes came out firing, shaking off the absence of starting center Aaron Bradshaw, who remains sidelined during a university investigation. Sean Stewart got the nod at center but ran into foul trouble early. Ohio State responded by going small, and the move worked. Freshman Austin Parks brought a spark off the bench, converting a slick reverse layup and hammering home a two-handed slam that had the crowd roaring. John Mobley Jr. showed off his deep range with a logo three, and Thornton’s mid-range jumper gave the Buckeyes a 28-18 lead midway through the first half.
Ohio State’s ball movement was on full display, with 12 assists on 20 made field goals in the opening period. The Buckeyes shot a blistering 6-of-9 from beyond the arc, carrying a 48-39 lead into halftime.
The second half began with promise. Thornton and Stewart connected on a highlight-reel alley-oop that gave Ohio State an 11-point lead, but that’s when things started to go south. Turnovers piled up as the Buckeyes forced ill-advised alley-oop attempts and struggled to break Pitt’s defensive adjustments. A seven-minute scoring drought allowed the Panthers to claw back into the game, powered by Ishmael Leggett’s relentless drives and Jaland Lowe’s scoring prowess.
Pitt’s 15-0 run stunned the Buckeyes and their fans, as the Panthers flipped the script to take a 61-57 lead with just under 11 minutes remaining. Still, Ohio State fought back. Parrish drained a four-point play that ignited the arena, and a string of clutch buckets from Royal and Thornton restored a narrow lead. A wild back-and-forth ensued in the final minutes of regulation, with both teams trading threes. When Thornton’s potential game-winner rimmed out at the buzzer, the game headed to overtime tied at 77.
Thornton opened the extra period with a pull-up triple, and the Buckeyes seemed poised to put Pitt away when Royal’s free throws made it 82-78. Even after Pitt’s Kante and Leggett fouled out, Ohio State couldn’t pull away. Jaland Lowe kept Pitt alive with eight straight points, cutting the Buckeye lead to one. Then, with time winding down and Ohio State up 90-88, Zack Austin delivered the dagger. Despite excellent defense from Parrish, Austin launched a contested three at the buzzer that sent the Panthers into celebration and left the Buckeye faithful stunned.
This game marked the first overtime contest under head coach Jake Diebler, and it certainly won’t be forgotten anytime soon. It was the 26th all-time meeting between Pitt and Ohio State, with the Panthers now leading the series 16-10. The Buckeyes were shorthanded in this one, missing freshman forward Colin White, who was seen in a walking boot, and continuing to play without Aaron Bradshaw due to his ongoing absence. Despite these challenges, Ohio State showed resilience, with Devin Royal battling through an ankle tweak and a hamstring scare to finish the game.
Ohio State opens Big Ten play on the road Wednesday against Maryland, with tipoff set for 6:30 p.m. on BTN. For Buckeye fans, the sting of this loss is undeniable. But with conference play looming, there’s no time to dwell. This young Ohio State team has shown flashes of brilliance, and there’s plenty of basketball left to play. Buckeye Nation will be ready.
