A Bruce Thornton leaner in the paint with just over 3 seconds to play in double-overtime capped an incredible comeback to give Ohio State a 89-88 win in double overtime. Bruce Thornton scored 12 of his 21 points after regulation, willing Ohio State to an almost improbable victory improving the Buckeyes to 8-2 while dropping West Virginia to 8-4. Down 16 points with 14 minutes to play in regulation, Ohio State came alive to go on a 17-4 run to close to within 3 with just under 8 minutes to play. After West Virginia answered to back up 8, Ohio State closed regulation play with a 16-8 run to force overtime. The first overtime went back and forth, with Ohio State missing a free throw with a chance to win in the first extra frame and after West Virginia hit an incredible long corner jumper to take a one point lead, 4 year captain Bruce Thornton, who put the team on his back, playing nearly 50 minutes, dug in deep and found the bottom of the net with 3 seconds to play to give Ohio State the final and game winning bucket.

For the game, Ohio State hit 44% from the floor, but made just 4 of 21 from long range, while holding West Virginia to 40% shooting despite making 12 of 26 from three. The Buckeyes assisted on 18 of 32 made buckets, while forcing the Mountaineers into 15 turnovers, converting 13 points off the WVU miscues. The free throw line was outstanding for the Buckeyes hitting 21 of 24, while WVU made 26 of 34 of their attempts. Both teams allowed 11 offensive rebounds with Ohio State holding a 38-34 edge overall.

Bruce Thornton led Ohio State with 21 points in a gritty performance, while John Mobley and Amare Bynum each added 17, with the latter adding 8 rebounds in his best game as a Buckeye thus far. Christoph Tilly contributed 14 points and 11 rebounds and before fouling out in the second overtime, Devin Royal added 11 points and 10 boards in a winning effort. West Virginia was led by Honor Huff’s game high 24, while Brenan Lorient added 18. Jasper Floyd and Chance Moore each added 14.

1^st Half

West Virginia struck first with an early three, but Ohio State answered quickly and the teams traded baskets throughout the opening minutes. After briefly falling behind 8–5, the Buckeyes used a 6–0 run highlighted by four free throws and a Bruce Thornton floater to take their first lead. The back-and-forth continued with both teams exchanging threes before Ohio State closed the stretch strong led by 8 early points by John Mobley, giving the Buckeyes a slim 16–14 advantage at the under-12 media timeout.

A Buckeye turnover sparked a West Virginia transition dunk to tie the game, and the Mountaineers briefly moved in front at the free-throw line. Ohio State answered with a Taison Chatman three-point play, but WVU again knotted the score at 19 by the under-8 timeout. From there, Ohio State went cold as West Virginia capitalized at the stripe and knocked down back-to-back threes to build a nine-point cushion. A Devin Royal putback through contact halted the 11–0 run, but the Mountaineers still held a 28–21 lead at the under-4 media timeout.

Out of the timeout, West Virginia continued to extend the margin at the free-throw line, with Ohio State answering intermittently through Christoph Tilly and Gabe Cupps. However, a Mountaineer three just before the halftime buzzer pushed the lead to 37–27 at the break.

Ohio State’s struggles stemmed from poor shooting and fouling, as the Buckeyes shot just 31% from the field and 2-of-12 from three, while West Virginia connected on 6-of-12 from deep and went 13-of-16 at the line. Despite a slight rebounding edge and forcing seven turnovers, Ohio State was disrupted by West Virginia’s halfcourt defense and an 11–0 run that created separation. John Mobley paced the Buckeyes with eight points in limited minutes due to foul trouble, while Jasper Floyd and Brenan Lorient led WVU with 10 points each.

2^nd Half

West Virginia opened the second half by building its largest lead, but back-to-back baskets from Amare Bynum pulled Ohio State within eight. The Mountaineers briefly extended the margin to 10 by the under-16 timeout, and after trading baskets, WVU ripped off an 8–0 run to push the lead to 51–35, forcing an Ohio State timeout. The Buckeyes responded with renewed energy, as a Brandon Noel finish, two Bynum free throws, and a Bruce Thornton steal leading to a Bynum layup cut the deficit to 51–41 and prompted a West Virginia timeout with 11:49 remaining.

A West Virginia basket halted the Buckeyes’ momentum, but Amare Bynum answered with an old-fashioned three-point play to keep Ohio State within striking distance. WVU briefly pushed the lead back to double digits at the line, yet Bynum’s transition dunk off a turnover ignited another surge. Buckets from Bruce Thornton and Christoph Tilly, and a Devin Royal tip-in pulled the Buckeyes to within one possession. With a chance to tie, Thornton was hacked attempting a three but with an egregious no call, Jake Diebler was hit with a technical foul and at the under 8 media timeout, West Virginia’s lead was trimmed to 55-52 with Ohio State on a 17-4 run.

West Virginia used a flurry of free throws to stretch the lead to eight, but a Bruce Thornton three kept Ohio State within five. After a Mountaineer dunk, John Mobley knocked down a pair at the line to again trim the deficit to five. WVU later split two free throws, and Christoph Tilly tipped in a Devin Royal miss to make it 63–59 in favor of the Mountaineers at the under-4 media timeout.

A Devin Royal bucket pulled Ohio State within two, but West Virginia answered with a timely three. Bruce Thornton scored through contact to keep the Buckeyes within three, and after a Mountaineer turnover, John Mobley calmly knocked down two free throws to make it a one-point game. Following a defensive stop, Ohio State took a timeout and then grabbed its first lead since midway through the first half on a deep Mobley three. WVU quickly tied it, and after late possessions on both sides—including a missed Thornton logo three at the horn—the game was sent to overtime tied at 68.

West Virginia struck first in overtime with a three, but Ohio State responded behind Bruce Thornton and Devin Royal, trading leads throughout the extra session. A Bynum tip-in with 1:30 remaining gave the Buckeyes a two-point edge before WVU answered with a late three. After exchanges of turnovers, Royal split a pair at the line to tie the game at 77 with 15 seconds left, and West Virginia’s final attempt missed, sending the contest to a second overtime.

It took a minute and a half, but two WVU free throws opened the scoring in the second overtime as Royal picked up his fifth and disqualifying foul. Ohio State answered with a pair of free throws by Thornton re-tying the game, but a West Virginia two broke the tie. A short Thornton jumper tied the game again, but two free throws on the other end put the Mountaineers back in front with just over 2 minutes to play. A Tilly dunk off a Mobley feed tied the game once again and after a defensive stop, Thornton hit a short jumper to put Ohio State back on top and West Virginia took a timeout with 53.3 seconds left and the Buckeyes leading 85-83. West Virginia came out of the timeout and buried a three to go back ahead and Ohio State took a timeout with 33 seconds left and now trailing 86-85. Thornton got to the stripe out of the timeout with 25 seconds to play and knocked down the pair to shift the Buckeyes back in front, but WVU answered with a long, heavily defended jumper from the right corner with 12.6 seconds left to regain the lead. After the officials reviewed the shot to see if it was a two or three, it was confirmed it was a two giving the ball back to Ohio State and Thornton crossed the timeline, drove the lane and hit a leaner in the paint with 3.3 seconds left and West Virginia called a timeout with the Buckeyes leading 89-88. The long inbounds pass was intercepted by Colin White and Ohio State completed the comeback to get a huge win.

Game Wrap

As bad as Ohio State looked for nearly 30 minutes, the  toughness and incredible fight this group showed down the stretch and into the overtime showed what this team is capable of if they can put a full 40 minutes together. For the latter half of the first half and the first half of the second half, it was all West Virginia and it looked like the Mountaineers were going to blow Ohio State out of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ arena, but all of a sudden, something clicked. The offense found rhythm and the defense slammed the door shut. Both overtimes were highly contested and went back and forth but Thornton was incredible but not to be overlooked was the effort of freshman Amare Bynum who may be finding his way into the starting lineup before long. His athleticism and strength in the paint along with incredible free throw shooting was key in a game where Devin Royal spent much of the game on the bench with foul trouble. While it clearly was not a perfect effort, the Buckeyes found a way and will now get back to work coming off a win and look forward to an incredible challenge with North Carolina next Saturday afternoon in Thornton’s home state of Georgia where he will be the first player in his high school to have his jersey retired next week. Until then, they Buckeyes will enjoy this one and look ahead to try to get a signature win in Atlanta.

Ohio State returns to action next Saturday afternoon in Atlanta for the CBS Sports Classic, where the Buckeyes will face 14th-ranked North Carolina in an approximate 3 p.m. tipoff, televised nationally on CBS.

-Jason Harris