Ohio State wrapped up their nearly weeklong Pacific Northwest trip settling for a split, falling 81-74 at Washington. The Huskies improved to 10-7 overall, 2-4 in conference play, while the Buckeyes dropped to 11-5, 3-3.

Washington erased a seven-point deficit early in the second half with a 14-0 run, coinciding with Christoph Tilly leaving the game due to injury. From that point on, the Huskies never trailed, though Ohio State got as close as a point, but the Huskies quickly answered with a 5-0 run and the Buckeyes never got any closer. The Buckeyes shot just 43% for the game, including 7-of-22 from three, while Washington hit 50% overall and 6-of-18 from long range. Despite out-rebounding Washington 39-29, Ohio State was disadvantaged at the line, as Washington converted 19 of 23 free throws compared to 13 of 15 for the Buckeyes.

Bruce Thornton led Ohio State with a game high 28 points, Amare Bynum added a career-high 20, and Devin Royal, limited by an apparent second-half injury, contributed 11 points and 8 rebounds. Washington was paced by Zoom Diallo with 22 points and Hannes Steinbach with 21, while Bryson Tucker and Franck Kepnang added 12 and 11, respectively. 

1^st Half

Ohio State and Washington traded early baskets, with Devin Royal finishing at the rim and Christoph Tilly throwing down a dunk for the Buckeyes. After the Huskies knocked down a pair of free throws, Amare Bynum scored seven straight points to push Ohio State in front. Washington briefly halted the run with an offensive rebound putback, but Bruce Thornton responded with a three, and the Buckeyes took a 14–8 lead into the first media timeout.

Ohio State added on out of the timeout as a pair of offensive rebounds set up a Thornton jumper. After Washington finished at the rim, Ivan Njegovan found a cutting Christoph Tilly for a lay-in. The Huskies answered back, but at the under-12 media timeout, the Buckeyes held an 18–12 lead.

Ohio State extended the lead on a Bynum three, but Washington answered with one of its own. The Huskies added a bucket inside before Royal drew a foul and knocked down both free throws to keep them at bay. Washington stayed within striking distance with another three, but Njegovan countered in the paint with a short hook. A Huskies triple was met by a Mobley three off a Thornton steal, yet Washington responded again from deep to keep it tight. At the under-8 media timeout with 5:39 remaining in the first half, Ohio State held a slim 28–26 advantage.

Tilly opened the sequence out of the timeout with a short hook, but Washington countered with an alley-oop dunk. Thornton responded with a pull-up jumper from 12 feet, only to see the Huskies answer with a 15-footer, off a hard ball screen. On the next possession, a driving Mobley dished to Bynum for a lay-in, and at the under-4 media timeout, Ohio State held a 34–30 lead.

A Washington alley-oop trimmed the margin, but Thornton answered with a runner to maintain the four-point cushion. The Huskies followed with a bucket and a pair of free throws to tie the game with 40 seconds left in the half, before Ohio State reclaimed the lead on a short Royal jumper. Washington’s final look came up empty, sending the Buckeyes into the locker room up 38–36.

Ohio State was efficient offensively in the opening half, shooting 48 percent from the field, assisting on eight of its 15 made baskets, and connecting on 4-of-10 from three-point range. Washington matched that shooting touch at 50 percent overall and also went 4-of-10 from deep. The Buckeyes made their biggest impact on the glass, holding a commanding 20–10 rebounding advantage in an otherwise even half. Amare Bynum led Ohio State with 12 first-half points, while Bruce Thornton added nine. Washington was paced by talented freshman Hannes Steinbach, who finished the half with 14 points and six rebounds.

2^nd Half

Ohio State opened the second half by scoring the first five points, as Mobley lobbed to Bynum for a dunk and, following a Mobley steal, Thornton buried a three from the left wing. Washington answered with a 12-footer, but Tilly knocked down a pair of free throws to respond. The Huskies then surged back, scoring eight straight to take their first lead since the opening moments. The run eventually stretched to 12–0, forcing Ohio State to burn a timeout with 15:47 remaining and Washington out in front, 50–45.

Washington’s surge grew to 14 straight points before Bynum finished at the rim off a Thornton feed to stop the run. The Huskies answered with a jumper from the high paint, and on the other end Thornton got to the line, where he split the pair. After Washington split its own free throws, Thornton returned to the stripe and knocked down both, and at the under-12 media timeout the Huskies held a 55–50 lead.

Out of the timeout, Washington went to the line and knocked down both free throws to push the lead back to seven, but Thornton answered by feeding Bynum inside for a dunk. Two more Huskies free throws were countered when Taison Chatman found Royal for a finish at the rim. After Washington split another trip to the line—following a sequence of questionable officiating that cost Ohio State a pair of possessions—Thornton drilled a three and Njegovan scored to pull the Buckeyes within one. The Huskies halted the momentum with a banked-in three, then added another bucket, and at the under-8 media timeout Washington led 65–59.

Thornton knocked down a pair of free throws to trim the margin, but Washington answered with two of its own. Thornton came back with a short jumper, only to see the Huskies respond again with a driving layup. After Bynum missed the front end of a one-and-one, Washington converted on the other end to build its largest lead with just over four minutes remaining. Thornton answered with a driving layup, then forced a turnover on the defensive end, but at the final media timeout with 3:21 to play, Washington still held a 71–65 advantage.

Thornton’s two free throws cut the deficit to four, but after Ohio State stole an inbounds pass, Mobley’s runner came up short and Washington responded with a transition dunk. The Huskies added another basket to go up eight, but Bynum stopped the run by scooping up a loose ball and finishing at the rim. With a minute remaining, Washington went to the line and sank both free throws to maintain an eight-point lead, effectively closing the door on Ohio State.

Royal hit a three from the right wing to trim the margin to five, prompting Jake Diebler to call a timeout with 47 seconds left. Forced to foul, Ohio State hoped for a miss, but the Huskies converted both free throws, and with 33 seconds remaining, Buckeye hopes for a miracle were fading. Thornton pushed the ball the other way for a lay-in, but after Washington missed a pair of free throws, Thornton’s 15-foot jumper missed. Washington then went back to the line, made both free throws, and that sealed a tough defeat for Ohio State. 

Game Wrap

Ohio State battled significant adversity in this matchup. Already without Brandon Noel due to injury, the Buckeyes lost Christoph Tilly just four minutes into the second half, and Devin Royal played much of the game while clearly battling through injury. Adding to the challenge, some questionable home-court officiating—normally a minor factor—ended up having a noticeable impact on the outcome. Despite these challenges, Ohio State remained competitive late but ultimately couldn’t close the gap. The Buckeyes led by as many as nine before Washington’s decisive run, and without Tilly and Noel, Ohio State lacked post presence to get back over the top, resulting in a tough loss in a game they could have won, especially against a Washington team that was also playing shorthanded.

The bench contributed minimally, with only four points from Njegovan, though there was solid floor play overall. However, in a contest where additional scoring was needed, the Buckeyes didn’t get the offensive production required. John Mobley, who had been playing well recently, struggled, finishing with just three points on 1-of-5 shooting and committing three turnovers. When the usual contributors aren’t producing, the team needs others to step up—and that didn’t happen in this game.

This loss makes the upcoming pair of home games even more critical. The team will hope the extra week allows time to rest and get healthier ahead of Saturday’s matchup with UCLA, giving Ohio State a chance to reset and rebound.

Box Score

*Official statistics provided courtesy of the University of Washington and StatBroadcast

Ohio State returns home on Saturday afternoon, hosting UCLA in Columbus for the first time since 1968 when the Bruins brought in a guy named Lew Alcindor, aka Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Game time is scheduled for 1PM with TV coverage provided by CBS.

-Jason Harris