Among the most surprising teams in college basketball this season, 10th-ranked Nebraska arrived in Columbus a perfect 14–0 and left with its school-record 15th straight victory, fending off a spirited second-half rally to defeat Ohio State 72–69. The loss drops the Buckeyes to 10–4 overall and 2–2 in Big Ten play, while the Huskers improve to 15–0 and 4–0.

Nebraska, trailing by one with five minutes remaining, seized control with a decisive 9–0 run over the next three minutes and held off a late Buckeye push to hand Ohio State yet another one-possession defeat. Ohio State shot 45.6 percent from the field and knocked down 9 of 26 from three, while limiting Nebraska to just 38 percent shooting in the second half and 44 percent overall. The Buckeyes forced 12 Husker turnovers and converted them into 17 points, but an uncharacteristically poor night at the free-throw line proved costly, as Ohio State went just 8-of-13 while Nebraska converted 14-of-17.

John Mobley led Ohio State with 22 points, while Bruce Thornton added 16 points, five rebounds, and seven assists. Devin Royal contributed 14 points and six rebounds, and Amare Bynum chipped in nine points and nine boards. Nebraska placed four players in double figures, led by Braden Frager’s 15 points. Rienk Mast added 12, while Jamarques Lawrence and Peyton Sandfort each finished with 11. 

1^st Half

Nebraska opened the game by scoring on each of their first 4 possessions, capping the run with back-to-back threes to lead 10-1 in the early moments with the only Buckeye point coming from a Christoph Tilly free throw. The Buckeyes carved into the Husker lead with consecutive scores from Devin Royal and Amare Bynum, but Nebraska answered with another three to take a 13-5 lead into the first media timeout as the Huskers opened a blistering 4 of 6 from the floor, including all 3 three attempts.

A transition three from John Mobley cut into the lead and after a Husker bucket, Mobley scored on a pull up jumper, drawing contact and hitting the free throw to complete the old-fashioned three-point play. The Buckeyes then closed to within 2 when Gabe Cupps picked the pocket of a Husker and in transition, Royal found Bynum at the rim for a dunk. Ohio State’s 8-2 run was answered by a 6-0 Nebraska run and at the under 12, Nebraska led 21-13.

Nebraska’s run continued out of the timeout, scoring the next 6 before Bruce Thornton ended the 12-0 run, penetrating the right side of the paint and scoring off the window. An interior pass from Bynum to a cutting Tilly for two preceded the under 8 with the Huskers leading 27-17.

The Huskers hit a short jumper out of the timeout to extend the lead, but Mobley answered with a three from left corner off a baseline inbounds pass and after Nebraska turned it over, Tilly buried a three from the top and Ohio State was within 6. Nebraska answered Ohio State’s run once again, keeping the Buckeyes at arm length, scoring the next 4, but back came the Buckeyes. Tilly fed Royal behind the Husker D for a dunk and Bynum drilled a corner three to pull Ohio State back within 5. The Huskers answered with a three of their own and at the under 4, Nebraska led 36-28.

Mobley hit a three from the left wing to get the Buckeyes a bit closer, but Nebraska answered with a driving layup on the other end which would ultimately be the last score of the first half as the Huskers took a 38-31 lead into the locker room.

Ohio State struggled to find a rhythm offensively, shooting 38.7% from the field and 5-of-14 from three, while Nebraska connected on 50% overall and 5-of-15 from beyond the arc. The Huskers controlled the glass, holding a 21–13 rebounding edge, but the Buckeyes stayed within striking distance by forcing eight Nebraska turnovers that turned into 11 points, while committing just four of their own. John Mobley paced Ohio State with 12 first-half points, knocking down three triples, while Jamarques Lawrence led Nebraska with seven points.

2^nd Half

Nebraska opened the second half with a three to quickly extend the lead to 10, but Ohio State quickly answered with a Thornton left wing three and 1 of 2 Royal free throws. After a Husker bucket, Royal canned 2 more freebies and Mobley hit a baseline 12-footer bringing Ohio State to within 4 and after forcing a Husker turnover, the momentum was back in favor of the Buckeyes at the under 16 with Nebraska’s lead cut to 43-39.

A long Mobley jumper out of the timeout had the home fans on their feet, but a defensive miscommunication and a turnover led to 4 quick Husker points. Thornton took a defensive rebound the length of the floor for two and Jake Diebler took a timeout to give his guys a breather at the 12:24 mark and Nebraska on top 47-43. A Bynum bucket after a defensive stop preceded the under 12 media timeout and the Husker lead sliced to 47-45.

After Nebraska split two free throws out of the timeout, Royal drove to the right side of the rim and scored off the glass. The Buckeyes got a defensive stop and on the other end, Thornton drew a foul on a dribble drive and buried both free throws to give Ohio State their first lead of the game with 10:24 to play. Nebraska regained the lead with a short jumper, but Royal split two free throws to tie the game.  A Thornton triple from the left point put the Buckeyes back ahead. After Ohio State failed on a transition opportunity where a potential foul call was missed, Nebraska scored at the rim to slice the lead to 1 and at the under 8, Ohio State led 53-52.

Nebraska regained the lead briefly when a triple dropped, but Mobley answered with a 3 from the left point to answer and give Ohio State the lead. The lead changed hands again when the Huskers hit two free throws, but Thornton answered with a short jumper. The Huskers went back ahead with an old-fashioned three-point play and added to the lead with a three and another two and with 2:18 remaining at the final media timeout, Nebraska led 65-58.

Out of the timeout, Nebraska canned a free throw to complete a three-point play and extended the lead to 8. Mobley answered with a three to stop the run. After Nebraska split two free throws, Royal hit a short jumper and after Tilly stole a Nebraska pass and went the other way for a dunk, the Huskers called a timeout with 56 seconds to play and Nebraska’s lead cut to 67-65.

An old-fashioned three-point play by Nebraska silenced the crowd and put Nebraska up 5, but Thornton quickly came back the other way and banked in a short jumper. After a Buckeye timeout, a foul put the Huskers at the stripe where they missed the front end. Royal scored with a short jumper to cut the lead to 1 with 14 seconds remaining and the Buckeyes fouled with 9 seconds to play. The Huskers nailed both to go up 3 and the Buckeyes raced up the floor where Tilly missed a three from the wing to end the game. 

Game Wrap

It has become a familiar theme. Ohio State digs a sizable first-half hole, battles back to take a late lead, and ultimately comes up just short. Falling behind by as many as 14 in the opening half, the Buckeyes clawed their way back behind excellent perimeter defense, taking the lead with just over 10 minutes to play and remaining in front as late as the five-minute mark. After Nebraska went on a run to regain control, Ohio State responded once again, but couldn’t come up with the defensive stop it needed and walked off the floor with another devastating loss. Yet another game where they got zero bench offense, 0 points, and they must get more bench production to get where they want to be. Unfortunately, in this one specifically, 6th man Brandon Noel was limited to 8 minutes, ending the game on the bench in a walking boot and will be evaluated. Until they get consistent scoring off the bench, they will be in more of these types of tight games. Even with that, they played well enough to win but just didn’t make enough plays down the stretch which is always magnified in close games and there have been a lot of them over the past couple seasons of Buckeye basketball.

For a program that has not made a tournament appearance in four years, résumé-building opportunities are few and far between, and this was one the Buckeyes desperately needed with a difficult West Coast trip on tap. Ohio State continues to play with effort and fight, but it can’t afford to wait until it falls behind to turn up the intensity. If the Buckeyes don’t begin to flip that script soon, they risk finding themselves on the outside looking in for a fourth consecutive March.

The upcoming West Coast swing won’t be easy, but it features two teams Ohio State absolutely must beat to get the season back on track. This stretch could prove to be make-or-break and will reveal exactly what this group is made of—and how badly it wants to turn potential into a successful season.

Box Score

*Official statistics provided courtesy of The Ohio State University and Sidearm sports

Ohio State heads to the west coast for a pair of games beginning with a Thursday night tilt in Eugene, Oregon against the Ducks. Tip time is scheduled for 10:30 PM with TV coverage provided by BTN.

-Jason Harris