Ohio State
10-7,2-4Big Ten
#24 Wisconsin
14-3,4-2Big Ten
2nd Half Comeback Falls Just Short at No. 24 Wisconsin
1/15/2025 12:14:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MADISON, Wis. – Ohio State dug itself a 17-point first-half hole and nearly came all the way back, cutting the deficit to just one in the final minute. But No. 24 Wisconsin was stout from the line to hold on for a 70-68 victory Tuesday night in Madison.
The Buckeyes are now 10-7 on the year and 2-4 in Big Ten play. This was their second consecutive two-point loss to a Top 25 team in the last two games.
Bruce Thornton scored 19 of his game-high 21 points in the second half as the Buckeyes outscored Wisconsin 48-33 in the second 20 minutes.
After shooting just 32 percent in the first half and committing nine turnovers, the Buckeyes played way cleaner in the second half, committing just two turnovers and shooting over 51 percent.
Devin Royal was the second Buckeye in double figures with 12 points and six rebounds. Sean Stewart once again led the team on the boards, pulling down a game-high eight rebounds to go along with four points. He was also a team-best +15 in plus-minus.
Freshman big man Ivan Njegovan came off the bench and provided his most productive minutes of the season. He finished with five points in nearly 11 minutes of action and all five of his rebounds came on the offensive glass.
The Buckeyes made their first shot of the night on a Stewart dunk but then missed 11 of their next 13 shots as Wisconsin built an early 17-6 lead. OSU got back within seven but an 8-0 Badger run to end the half led to a 37-20 Wisconsin lead at the break.
The second half started with the Buckeyes on a quick 10-2 spurt and after a Royal three-pointer from the top of the key, the Buckeyes had cut the lead down to 48-44 with 10 minutes to play. That capped a 9-0 run which saw the Buckeyes make four of five shots.
Wisconsin held a two-possession edge for the next six minutes until a three-pointer with 4:17 to play pushed the lead to 65-57. The Buckeyes would score the next seven points over a four-minute span to cut the lead to one with 16 seconds to play. Thornton and John Mobley Jr. matched a pair of Wisconsin free throws and the lead with still one with three seconds remaining. Wisconsin then split a pair of free throws with one second left and Ohio State couldn’t convert a desperation shot at the buzzer.
Up Next
The Buckeyes return home to host Indiana on Friday night at Value City Arena. The Hoosiers swept the season series last year but will come to town having lost its last two games. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. and the game will be televised nationally on FOX.
