Ohio State
21-11,12-8Big Ten
Iowa
21-12,10-10Big Ten
Buckeyes Hold Off Iowa, Advance to BTT Quarterfinals
3/12/2026 4:18:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Bruce Thornton finished with game-highs of 24 points and six rebounds
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State advanced in the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday afternoon, holding off a late Iowa comeback for a 72-69 victory at the United Center.
Ohio State led by as many as 16 points in the second half before the Hawkeyes stormed back in the final minutes to cut the deficit to one. The Buckeyes made key plays down the stretch and came up with defensive stops in the closing seconds to secure the win and move on to the quarterfinals.
Senior Bruce Thornton led the Buckeyes with 24 points while adding six rebounds and three assists, shooting 10-of-14 from the field in an efficient performance. Thornton scored 17 of his 24 points in the second half and fueled a pivotal run midway through the period that helped Ohio State build its largest lead of the afternoon.
Christoph Tilly added 16 points and four rebounds while going 5-of-6 from the field and 6-of-9 from the free throw line. Amare Bynum contributed 11 points and four rebounds and delivered several momentum-shifting dunks during key stretches of the game. John Mobley Jr. finished with 12 points, including three three-pointers, and sealed the win with two free throws in the final seconds.
Iowa opened the game with early momentum, jumping out to an 8-2 lead as Ohio State struggled to find its rhythm offensively. The Buckeyes made just one field goal in the opening minutes and committed several early turnovers before settling into the game.
Ohio State responded midway through the first half by attacking the paint and finding success inside. The Buckeyes connected on seven consecutive field goals during one stretch and eventually took their first lead at 21-20 after a layup from Bynum. Tilly continued to provide a steady presence inside and finished the half with 12 points as Ohio State closed strong to take a 34-30 lead into halftime after a late layup from Thornton.
The Buckeyes extended their advantage early in the second half. After Mobley knocked down his first three-pointer of the game to push the lead to eight, Thornton took control of the offense. The senior scored 10 consecutive points during a Buckeye surge that pushed the lead to 51-35 with just under 14 minutes remaining.
Iowa refused to go away and mounted several runs throughout the second half. The Hawkeyes eventually cut the deficit to three after a dunk from Tavion Banks with 1:22 remaining, then trimmed the lead to one after Bennett Stirtz converted two free throws with :38 seconds left.
Following a missed layup from Thornton, the Buckeyes secured a critical offensive rebound before Mobley was fouled. Mobley calmly knocked down both free throws with eight seconds remaining to extend the lead to three.
Iowa had one final chance but could not convert, as a three-point attempt in the closing seconds missed and Ohio State secured the rebound to seal the 72-69 win.
The Buckeyes finished the game shooting 55.3 percent from the field and scored 36 points in the paint, using their interior offense to control much of the afternoon.
Iowa was led offensively by Bennett Stirtz, who finished with 16 points, while Cooper Koch added 13 points for the Hawkeyes.
Up Next
Ohio State will face top-seeded Michigan in the quarterfinals on Friday at the United Center. Tip-off is set for noon ET and will be televised on BTN.
#GoBucks
