Just when you thought the season was lost, the Ohio State basketball team has come off the mat with a huge 73-69 upset of No. 2 Purdue Sunday. It comes in a week after head coach Chris Holtmann was let go because of two very disappointing years and should act as at least a little bit of salve for OSU fans wounded egos.
To be fair, the win doesn’t even come close to getting the Buckeyes even back on the bubble when it comes to the NCAA but it does start to build at least a path to the postseason.
Ohio State looked like it was intent on making it a game from the start, even after falling down by eight points at one time in the first half. OSU played more pace and purpose on both sides of the floor and took a 35-30 lead into halftime thanks in large part to the steady play of point guard Bruce Thornton.
But Purdue would stay close and battle as anyone would expect all the way to the end. The Boilermakers took advantage at the free throw line to stay in the game and in reach, going 20-of-20 for the game.
But it wasn’t enough. Not this time.
Even when Zach Edey and Purdue tied the score and you thought the same movie was about to play and end as we’ve seen it before. But not this time. OSU made got a huge bucket and free throws from Jamison Battle with under a minute to go, then he and Bruce Thornton were able to ice it at the free throw line to shock the college basketball world.
Number Who?
BUCKEYES WIN ‼️#Team125 | #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/l37WMHYNDV
— Ohio State Hoops 🌰 (@OhioStateHoops) February 18, 2024
Thornton led Ohio State in scoring with 22 points on 8-of-17 from the floor, many of them in clutch moments. He also chipped in four rebounds and three assists, while turning the ball over just twice.
The win moves OSU’s record to 15-11 overall and 5-10 in the conference. The Buckeyes will next be in action at Minnesota Thursday.
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