Buckeye Comeback Falls Short in 73-65 Setback at Michigan

Monday, January 15

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Noon

Ohio State

12-5,2-4Big Ten

Michigan

7-10,2-4Big Ten

Ohio St.

Michigan

Buckeye Comeback Falls Short in 73-65 Setback at Michigan

1/15/2024 3:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – A 16-0 second half run gave Ohio State life as well as a four-point lead with eight minutes to play. However, Michigan hit a pair of clutch three-pointers down the stretch and would pull-out a 73-65 victory on Monday afternoon inside the Crisler Center.

Ohio State is now 12-5 on the season and 2-4 in Big Ten play.

Sophomore Bruce Thornton led the Buckeyes in scoring with 19 points while Roddy Gayle Jr. added 12 points. Felix Okpara also had a nice game, finishing with 10 points, nine rebounds and five blocks.

The difference in the game came at the three-point line. Michigan shot a season-best 52 percent (12-of-23) from long range while the Buckeyes' recent struggles continued as they were just 3-of-25 for 12 percent.

The Buckeyes were just 1-of-14 on three-point attempts in the first half. Conversely, Michigan was 7-of-11, including hitting one at the halftime buzzer to take a 37-28 lead at the break.

The Buckeyes came out hot to start the second half, led by graduate transfer Jamison Battle who collected five quick points to cut the lead to four just four minutes into the half. Michigan would maintain a 52-43 lead by the midway mark after a quick offensive burst.

Ohio State would find the spark however, launching an over four-minute, 16-0 scoring run, coming out of the under-12 media timeout. Thornton led the way with eight points and Dale Bonner gave the team a great boost. That run gave the Buckeyes a 59-55 lead at the under-eight media timeout.

A 12-2 Wolverine run in the final stretch would seal the deal down the stretch as Terrence Williams II made two three-pointers in the final four minutes.

The Buckeyes return home to host Penn State this Saturday beginning at noon on BTN.

The Buckeyes finished the game with a season-low four turnovers.
But they also finished the game with a season-low six assists.
Felix Okpara blocked five shots and has extended his consecutive game streak with a block to 23.
Okpara grabbed nine rebounds and has averaged nearly 10 rebounds per game in the past four games (9.5 rpg)
Freshman Devin Royal had seven points and three rebounds. The seven points are his second-most this season behind his 11-point game vs. Central Michigan at the end of November.
Evan Mahaffey finished with eight points and five boards. The eight points were also his second-most in a game and the most in the six Big Ten games.
Bruce Thornton had 19 points and swiped a career-high four steals.