Michigan broke open a tightly contested game that featured nine ties and 12 lead changes, using a decisive 19–5 run late in the second half to pull away from upset-minded Ohio State and secure a 74–62 win in Ann Arbor. With the loss, Ohio State drops to 13–6 (5–4), while No. 3 Michigan improves to 18–1 (8–1).

In front of a raucous home crowd, the Buckeyes went toe-to-toe with the Wolverines for nearly 30 minutes, but Michigan’s aggressive defense and timely offense proved to be the difference down the stretch. Ohio State shot 41 percent from the field, including 8-of-27 from three, while Michigan connected on 52 percent of its attempts despite going just 5-of-23 from deep. The Wolverines controlled the glass, 36–27 and leaned on their size to score 36 points in the paint compared to 24 for the Buckeyes, including a 23-13 advantage in second chance points.

The largest disparity came at the free throw line, where Michigan attempted 25 shots, making 15, while Ohio State went just 6-of-9. John Mobley led the Buckeyes with 22 points, and Christoph Tilly added 17. Bruce Thornton was limited to a season-low 10 points but pulled down nine rebounds. Michigan was paced by Yaxel Lendeborg’s 18 points and nine boards, with Morez Johnson and Trey McKenny adding 12 apiece, and Aday Mara chipping in 11.

1^st Half

Michigan opened the scoring with a lob and dunk following a poor center toss. Ohio State responded as John Mobley knocked down a baseline floater. After turnovers on both ends, the Wolverines buried a corner three. The Buckeyes answered with a pair of Christoph Tilly free throws, but Michigan matched them at the line. Tilly then converted an up-and-under at the rim, and after a Michigan spin move off the glass, the Wolverines carried a 9–6 lead into the first media timeout.

A transition bucket from Colin White, getting a feed from Mobley cut the deficit to one and Ohio State took their first lead when Mobley split the defense and scored off the glass. Michigan regained the lead with a 12-foot jumper, but Ohio State answered with a Tilly bucket off the window. After Michigan went back in front with a score, Bruce Thornton scored in the middle of the paint and at the under 12, Ohio State led 14-13.

A transition bucket by Colin White off a Mobley feed trimmed the deficit to one, and Ohio State grabbed its first lead when Mobley split the defense and finished off the glass. Michigan answered with a 12-foot jumper, but the Buckeyes countered with a Christoph Tilly bank shot. After the Wolverines briefly went back in front, Bruce Thornton scored in the paint, giving Ohio State a 14–13 edge at the under-12 media timeout.

Michigan split two free throws to tie the game, but Ohio State answered with a pair of Mobley triples, the latter as the shot clock was expiring to extend the Buckeye lead to 6. Michigan hit a jumper to end the Buckeye burst and at the under 8, Ohio State led Michigan 20-16.

Michigan split a pair of free throws out of the timeout, and Ohio State answered with a Devin Royal 10-footer. The Wolverines quickly responded, knocking down a corner three, but the Buckeyes countered with a John Mobley floater. A Michigan transition dunk ignited the home crowd, only for Mobley to answer again with a jumper from just inside the stripe. Michigan then scored the next six points, taking a 28–26 lead into the under-4 media timeout.

Ohio State evened the score when a Christoph Tilly offensive rebound created a second chance and Bruce Thornton converted a runner. Michigan answered to retake the lead, but another extra possession resulted in Thornton finding Devin Royal for a bucket. The Wolverines then split a pair of free throws and added a late score to carry a 33–30 advantage into the locker room.

The Buckeyes struggled against Michigan’s aggressive defense in the first half, shooting just 39 percent from the floor and going 2-of-13 from three. Michigan connected on 50 percent of its attempts but was also cold from deep, hitting just 2-of-11. The Wolverines held a slim 18–16 rebounding edge, but Ohio State capitalized on turnovers, scoring 11 points off eight Michigan miscues. The whistle favored Michigan early, though the Wolverines missed five of their 10 free throw attempts, while Ohio State converted both of its tries.

John Mobley led the Buckeyes with 14 first-half points, while Michigan was paced by Yaxel Lendeborg’s nine.

2^nd Half

Ohio State opened the second half with a John Mobley steal and a long two in transition to trim the deficit to one. After Michigan split a pair of free throws, Bynum attacked the lane and finished with a reverse layup to tie the game. Mobley then knocked down a three, and Christoph Tilly followed with one of his own, forcing Michigan to burn a timeout at the 17:31 mark with Ohio State out front, 40–34. Michigan snapped the Buckeye 8-0 run with a runner in the lane and added four more, the last off a Buckeye turnover and at the under 16, the game was tied at 40.

Michigan’s run reached 11–0 before Bynum finally stopped the bleeding with a three from the top of the key. Ohio State briefly moved back in front when Christoph Tilly banked in a three, but the Wolverines answered with an offensive rebound and putback and at the under-12 media timeout, Michigan held a narrow 47–46 lead.

Ivan Njegovan knocked down a short jumper to give Ohio State the lead, but a Buckeye delay-of-game technical sent Michigan to the line, where the Wolverines converted the free throw to tie it. Michigan then broke the tie with a drive to the basket, only for Ohio State to respond as Bruce Thornton sank a pair of free throws. A Michigan dunk, after it appeared that they got away with a moving screen, put the Wolverines back in front and after Tilly split two at the line to pull the Buckeyes within one, Michigan followed with a three. At the under-8 media timeout, Michigan held a 55–51 advantage.

Out of the timeout, Tilly went to the line missed the front end and Royal picked up his fourth foul on the rebound attempt, walking the teams to the other end for a one and one and they made the pair to put the Wolverines up 6, their largest lead of the game. A Michigan 3 forced Ohio State to take a timeout with 6:30 to go and the Wolverines on a 8-0 run to go up 60-51.  Tilly stopped the run with a spin move and score, but Michigan answered on the other end. Mobley hit a three for Ohio State, but a tip dunk by Michigan answered again and went up 10 after a Buckeye turnover.

Michigan added three and two free throws to go up 15 with just over 3 minutes to go. Tilly stopped the run with a lay in and Thornton split two free throws to cut the deficit to 12 with just 2:17 to play. After Michigan split two free throws, Thornton buried a three to cut the Michigan lead to 10. A Wolverine dunk put an exclamation point on this game with 53 seconds to play and ended the scoring in the Michigan win.

Game Wrap

The Buckeyes entered as heavy underdogs and more than held their own for much of the game but ultimately ran out of steam against a highly aggressive and talented Michigan squad on their home floor. Ohio State had their openings and forced Michigan into mistakes, but on the road against a good team, you must take advantage and the Buckeyes weren’t able to consistently make Michigan pay for their mistakes.  While Michigan may have benefited from some hometown officiating, they largely controlled the tempo, took away Thornton and Royal and forced them into a combined 5 of 18 shooting night, and despite Ohio State’s tremendous fight and late-game opportunity to pull off an upset, it wasn’t meant to be.

Ohio State battled through a hostile, at times classless, environment, and for more than 30 minutes, they nearly executed the near-perfect game needed to win at Michigan. In the end, though, some over penetration in the paint, lack of offensive poise that allowed Michigan to overplay the perimeter during their late run, caused them to fall just short. They’ll have another chance against this team at home and other opportunities to strengthen their resume, so the focus now is on building from this performance and continuing to improve.

Though a win here would have been a signature victory, this loss doesn’t damage the Buckeyes’ standing in the bigger picture. This team is unquestionably good enough to make the tournament, and if they continue to play with the same effort and toughness shown in recent games, including this one, they will certainly hear their name called when Selection Sunday arrives.

The Buckeyes return home Monday to face last-place Penn State before heading to Wisconsin next weekend for a challenging yet winnable road test. The key is simple: accumulate wins, keep improving, and good things will follow.

Box Score

*Official statistics provided courtesy of The University of Michigan and Statbroadcast

Ohio State is back in action Monday night, returning home to the Schott to host Penn State. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m., with television coverage on FS1.

-Jason Harris