Ohio State got off to a fast start, scoring the first 10 points of the game, but saw that lead slip before regaining control with an 11-point advantage early in the second half. Minnesota battled back and nearly stole the game on the final possession, but the Buckeyes seized control in overtime to defeat the visiting Gophers 82–74. Ohio State improves to 13–5 overall and 5–3 in the Big Ten, while Minnesota drops its fourth straight, falling to 10–9 and 3–5 in conference play.

The Buckeyes shot 47.7% from the field, including 7 of 24 from three, while holding Minnesota to 39.7% overall and 8 of 28 from deep. Ohio State dominated the boards 42–31, grabbing 13 offensive rebounds that led to 14 second-chance points, and converted 13 of 18 free throws. Minnesota, though missing a key late free throw, was strong at the line overall, hitting 20 of 25.

John Mobley led Ohio State with 26 points, while Bruce Thornton added 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists — tying Curtis Wilson for fifth all-time in Buckeye history in assists. Devin Royal contributed 16 points and 5 rebounds, and Christoph Tilly added 11 points and 5 rebounds before fouling out. In Tilly’s absence, Ivan Njegovan scored 2 points but led the team with 9 rebounds

 

1^st Half

Ohio State seized control right from the opening tip. John Mobley knocked down a three to start the scoring, followed by a Christoph Tilly bucket off the bounce and a Devin Royal triple. Mobley capped the surge with a finish on a dribble drive, punctuating a 10–0 Buckeye run that forced Minnesota to burn a timeout at the 16:06 mark.

Minnesota eventually found the scoreboard, scoring six straight points — all from the free-throw line — to chip away at the early Buckeye advantage. Devin Royal halted the run with a pair at the stripe, but after missing their first nine shots, the Gophers knocked down a corner three to trim the lead to three. Two more Minnesota free throws pulled them within one before a three gave the Gophers their first lead of the night. Minnesota tacked on another bucket before John Mobley answered with a left-corner three. Still, riding a 16–5 surge, Minnesota took a 16–15 lead into the under-12 media timeout.

Mobley put Ohio State back on top with a runner, but Minnesota countered with one of its own. The lead flipped again when Mobley was fouled on a three-point attempt and calmly sank all three free throws to give the Buckeyes a two-point edge. Ohio State extended the advantage on a Gabe Cupps drive and finish off the glass, only to see Minnesota respond with another three. Tilly then found Royal slipping behind the defense for an easy two, but the Gophers answered yet again from deep, and at the under-8 media timeout the teams were knotted at 24 apiece.

Coming out of the timeout, Mobley drove the lane, drew the defense and kicked to an open Bruce Thornton in the left corner for three, but Minnesota responded with a bucket and two free throws to move back in front. Ohio State reclaimed the lead when Thornton got into the lane and pulled up for a jumper, and at the under-4 media timeout the Buckeyes held a slim 29–28 advantage.

The offenses went quiet for four minutes before Thornton broke the drought, driving the lane and converting the final basket of the half with 10 seconds remaining to send Ohio State into the locker room with a 31–28 lead.

The Buckeyes shot 41% in the opening half but struggled from deep, connecting on just 4 of 15 from three. Defensively, Ohio State stifled Minnesota, holding the Gophers to a woeful 28% shooting, including 4 of 13 from beyond the arc. Minnesota stayed within striking distance by going 10 of 11 at the free-throw line and scoring eight points off six Ohio State turnovers.

Ohio State owned a 19–14 rebounding advantage and outscored the Gophers 14–6 in the paint yet carried only a three-point lead into halftime. John Mobley led the Buckeyes with 13 points through 20 minutes, while Langston Reynolds paced Minnesota with eight.

2^nd Half

A pair of Gopher turnovers led to a half opening 7-0 Buckeye run. Buckets by Thornton and Mobley and an old-fashioned three-point play by Tilly had Ohio State up 10 and on an 11-0 run in total going back to the first half. After a Gopher score to halt the run, Thornton split a pair of free throws and when backcourt pressure forced a Gopher turnover, initially given back to Minnesota before a Jake Diebler challenge, an early media timeout was called at the 17-minute mark with Ohio State leading 39-30. 

Thornton came out of the timeout with a dribble-drive score out of the timeout to push the Buckeyes’ lead to 11, but Minnesota quickly answered with a three. Against a Gopher zone on the next possession, Tilly went to work on the right block for two, only to see Minnesota respond once more from beyond the arc. Another Gopher triple cut the margin to four, and fueled by a flurry of threes, Minnesota used a 9–2 run to stay within striking distance, trailing Ohio State 43–39.

Minnesota followed with a steal and score, then tied the game at the line as the run reached 10 straight points before John Mobley finally stopped the momentum, drilling a three to put Ohio State back on top. The Gophers responded with two free throws and another steal-and-score to reclaim the lead, then knocked down a three to cap a 7–0 spurt that forced Ohio State to call timeout, with Minnesota ahead 50–46.

Ohio State finally halted the Gopher surge when Thornton found Tilly on a baseline inbounds play for two. Minnesota then drew Tilly’s fourth personal foul but managed to split the pair at the line. After both teams came up empty on free throws, John Mobley tied the game by burying a three from the right corner. Minnesota answered with a bucket on the other end, but Thornton responded by scoring through contact, though he couldn’t complete the three-point play. The Buckeyes briefly went back in front when Devin Royal finished from the right block, only for the Gophers to answer with a basket through contact of their own, and at the under-4 media timeout the game was knotted at 53.

The free throw out of the timeout fell to give Minnesota a brief edge, but Devin Royal answered immediately, finishing a Bruce Thornton lob with a flush. Two Gopher free throws restored the Minnesota lead, then Christoph Tilly scored through contact on the other end, though Ohio State again came up empty at the stripe. Minnesota converted on its next possession, but John Mobley responded once more for the Buckeyes, knocking down a short jumper in the middle of the paint. The Gophers answered yet again and took a timeout with 1:48 remaining, clinging to a 61–60 lead.

Coming out of the timeout, Ohio State reclaimed the lead as John Mobley drilled a three from the top of the key. Minnesota quickly answered with an old-fashioned three-point play, during which Christoph Tilly picked up his fifth and fouling out. The Buckeyes responded when Bruce Thornton scored on a runner, drew the foul, and sank the free throw to complete his own old-fashioned three-point play. Ohio State took a timeout with 55 seconds remaining, holding a 67–65 lead. After the timeout, Minnesota scored and drew a foul but fortuitously missed the free throw and with the game tied, Ohio State missed a jumper and the Gophers failed to convert in the closing seconds as the game went to overtime. 

OT

Ohio State opened the scoring in overtime when Devin Royal grabbed an offensive rebound and finished in the middle of the lane. A short jumper from Minnesota tied it, but Royal struck again, this time scoring through contact and drawing a foul on Minnesota’s leading scorer Cade Tyson, completing the three-point play to put the Buckeyes up three. After a Gopher basket on the next possession, Bruce Thornton hit a short jumper in the paint, and then Collin White intercepted a pass in Minnesota’s frontcourt and raced the length of the floor for a lay-in, forcing Minnesota to call a timeout with 1:49remaining and Ohio State leading 76–71.

The Gophers sliced it to 3 when an offensive rebound and put back dropped and Minnesota called another timeout with 1:33 to play. The Buckeyes went back to work out of the timeout and after using nearly the full 30 seconds, Thornton buried a short jumper. A terrible foul call on other end put Minnesota on the stripe, where they split the pair. On the Buckeye offensive possession, they used 29 seconds of the shot clock and Thornton drew a foul and went to the line and hit both free throws to put Ohio State up 6 with 25 seconds to play. After grabbing a defensive rebound, Ivan Njegovan was fouled and after walking to the other end, Njegovan drained both free throws to seal the game. 

 

Game Wrap

The Buckeyes weren’t at their sharpest on this night, but they never stopped fighting. While they were fortunate to push the game into overtime, they did what good teams do — they found a way to win even when not at their best. Once again led by John Mobley, who has been stellar outside of the Washington game, and team leader Bruce Thornton, Ohio State grinded out the victory.

Key contributions from the bench made a difference on the defensive end. Colin White’s timely steal and finish and Ivan Njegovan’s dominance on the glass provided crucial lifts when the Buckeyes needed it most, while Gabe Cupps made an impact in 14 minutes, including a score. Amare Bynum had a tough night, playing just 22 minutes, missing his only shot attempt, but he did pull down five rebounds. As he continues to develop and log career-high minutes, look for him to bounce back — his talent makes it inevitable.

Overall, it was a successful two-game homestand, securing the wins Ohio State needed and putting them in a good position heading into the toughest game of the season in Ann Arbor. It’s a big opportunity for a signature win, but even if they fall short, it won’t be devastating — they go in with nothing to lose and everything to gain. There’s still a long way to go before March, but Ohio State is trending in the right direction. Despite an uneven performance, it’s always better to play poorly and win than to play well and lose. The Buckeyes will need a much sharper effort on Friday night, but the slate resets, and they will leave everything on the floor in the rivalry game.

 

Box Score

 

 

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

 

The Buckeyes head back on the road next, traveling to Ann Arbor to face #3 Michigan — aka That School Up North — on Friday night at 8 p.m., with television coverage on FOX.

-Jason Harris