Ohio State, searching for their first ranked win of the season, needn’t look any further, defeating visiting No. 24 Wisconsin 86–69, snapping a four-game losing streak to the Badgers and splitting the season series. The Buckeyes improve to 17–9 overall and 9–6 in conference play, while Wisconsin falls to 18–8, 10–5.

Three separate 8–0 runs helped Ohio State build a lead as large as 14 in the first half, ultimately taking a 12-point advantage into the locker room. The Badgers never got closer than 12 the rest of the way, as the Buckeyes controlled the game from start to finish, leading or tied for all but 44 seconds, securing a much-needed signature victory.

Ohio State dominated on both ends of the floor, holding Wisconsin to 46% shooting and just 7-of-26 from three while hitting 54% themselves, including 11-of-21 from long range. The Buckeyes controlled the tempo and the boards, outrebounding the Badgers 35–27, forcing 12 turnovers and converting them into 16 points. At the line, Ohio State made 13-of-19, while Wisconsin struggled, converting only 8-of-16.

Bruce Thornton led all scorers with 27 points, just shy of a triple-double with 9 rebounds and 8 assists, passing the great Jerry Lucas and William Buford to move into third place on Ohio State’s all-time scoring list. Devin Royal bounced back after a tough outing versus Virginia, scoring 25 points, hitting 4-of-7 from three, and adding 5 rebounds. Amare Bynum contributed 13 points and 6 rebounds, while Taison Chatman added 11.

For Wisconsin, Braeden Carrington led with 20 points, but the conference’s top-scoring guard duo of Nick Boyd and John Blackwell were held to just 14 points each. Nolan Winter added 10 in the defeat.

1^st Half

Christoph Tilly opened the scoring, converting a layup off a feed from Bruce Thornton. After Wisconsin responded with the next four points, Devin Royal answered with a 10-footer in the paint. The Badgers knocked down a jumper on the other end, but Thornton sparked the Buckeyes with back-to-back assists to Amare Bynum and Royal for three-pointers.

Thornton then found Royal again on the next possession for a layup, capping an 8-0 Ohio State run. Wisconsin halted the surge with a dunk before Taison Chatman answered with a 17-foot jumper from the left wing. The Badgers grabbed an offensive rebound and scored just before the under-16 media timeout, with Ohio State holding a 14–10 lead.

Ohio State maintained its offensive efficiency coming out of the timeout, with Royal finishing at the rim. Following a Wisconsin turnover, Royal set up Thornton in the left corner for a three. After another defensive stop, Royal knocked down a three of his own, pushing the Buckeyes on an 8–0 run and forcing a Wisconsin timeout with Ohio State leading 22–10.

The Badgers halted the run with a bucket in the lane, but the Buckeyes answered when Tilly connected with Royal on a lob for two, extending the lead to 24–12 at the under-12 media timeout.

Out of the break, Wisconsin split a pair of free throws and added another basket before Royal scored from the right block. The Badgers countered with a dribble-drive score just before the under-8 timeout, with Ohio State holding a 26–17 advantage.

A pair of questionable offensive foul calls on Ohio State helped spark a Wisconsin three that cut the lead to six, but Bynum answered with a runner in the paint. The Badgers split the Buckeye zone for a score at the rim before Chatman drew a trip to the free-throw line on the other end and knocked down both. Wisconsin responded with a dribble-drive dunk, but Bynum countered with a three from the right point. After a defensive stop, Chatman connected from the left wing, and Puff Johnson followed with a score off the bounce to extend the lead. The Badgers finally halted the 8–0 Ohio State run with a basket, and at the under-4 media timeout with 1:05 left in the half, the Buckeyes held a 38–26 advantage. 

Out of the timeout, the Buckeyes forced a shot clock violation thanks to a Royal block, allowing Ohio State to hold for one final shot, but were unable to convert as the Buckeyes took a 38-26 lead into the locker room. 

Efficient offense paired with opportunistic defense fueled the Buckeyes’ double-digit halftime advantage. Ohio State shot 51.7% from the field, including 6-of-13 from three, while holding Wisconsin to 40% shooting and just 1-of-5 from beyond the arc.

The Buckeyes owned a slight 16–14 edge on the glass, though they did surrender six offensive rebounds while collecting five of their own. Devin Royal led all scorers at the break with 16 points, while Bruce Thornton filled the first half stat sheet and although he only scored just 3 points, but added 5 rebounds and 6 assists.  Nolan Winter paced Wisconsin with 10.

 

2^nd Half

Ohio State opened the second-half scoring with Chatman converting on a dribble drive. After Wisconsin got on the board, Thornton answered with a three from the right corner. The Badgers quickly responded with a triple of their own, but Thornton came right back, banking in a runner along the right side of the paint. Royal followed with a 15-footer to extend the lead before Wisconsin countered with a short jumper. At the under-16 media timeout, Ohio State held a 47–33 advantage.

Out of the timeout, Thornton went to the free-throw line and converted both attempts to extend the lead to 16, before Wisconsin answered with a deep three. Ivan Njegovan grabbed an offensive rebound on the other end and scored off the glass, but the Badgers responded with another three. Thornton then split a pair of free throws and added a shot off the window, moving into third place on Ohio State’s all-time scoring list. The Buckeyes continued to pull away as Thornton drove the lane and kicked out to Royal in the right corner for a three, pushing the lead to 18. Wisconsin cut into it with a free throw and a triple, but Bynum answered with a leaner in the lane. At the under-12 media timeout, Ohio State held a 59–43 advantage.

A Wisconsin two-pointer was quickly answered by Thornton, who knocked down a short baseline jumper. After the Badgers scored in transition, Bynum responded with a three. Back-to-back buckets from Wisconsin were met with a Royal three off an inside-out action, and at the under-8 media timeout, Ohio State held a 67–51 lead.

A pair of Wisconsin buckets were followed by a Thornton three following an Ohio State timeout, giving the Buckeyes a 14-point lead with under six minutes to play. A questionable foul call—likely an offensive foul—sent the Badgers to the line, where they split a pair of free throws. Thornton responded with an and-one on the other end, extending the lead to 17. After Wisconsin converted two more free throws, Johnson drove along the baseline for a score. The Badgers then buried a three and quickly took a timeout at the 4:01 mark with Ohio State holding a 75–61 advantage.

A foul in the backcourt put Chatman on the stripe where he drilled two and after a defensive stop, Thornton scored off the bounce, putting Bruce over the 2000 point mark for his career. Wisconsin split two free throws on consecutive trips, but Thornton scored from the right block to answer. Thornton added 2 free throws, before Wisconsin rattled down a runner. Njegovan bagged two free throws with just over a minute to play and with the Badgers on the line, where they split two, Thornton left the floor to a huge ovation from the home crowd.  After Royal split two free throws, Wisconsin hit a three to complete the scoring in a huge home victory for Ohio State.

 

 

 

Game Wrap

Ohio State had come up just short in games against ranked opponents this season and entered the night clearly on the NCAA tournament bubble, lacking a signature win. They emphatically ended that conversation, dominating a red-hot Wisconsin team fresh off a demolition of Michigan State, and now likely find themselves on the right side of the bubble discussion.

Playing without John Mobley for the second straight game, the Buckeyes jumped out to a strong start, moving the ball efficiently, creating open looks against Wisconsin’s aggressive defense, and confusing the Badgers with their own switching schemes. The second half was more of the same: Ohio State not only maintained the lead but extended it, building a margin as large as 20 points late, never truly being challenged.

While technically a Quad 2 win, it counts as a ranked victory and will be a feather in their cap when the tournament committee evaluates resumes. The Buckeyes showed a complete, connected effort on both ends, highlighting how dangerous they can be when they play a full 40 minutes of solid basketball. Wisconsin is an excellent, well-coached team, which makes Ohio State’s performance all the more impressive and sure to turn heads nationally.

Opportunities remain ahead, and if the Buckeyes finish the season strong and take care of business against the teams they’re expected to beat, a Selection Sunday invitation is within reach. The next challenge comes Sunday against another elite, well-coached opponent, but if Ohio State can build on tonight’s momentum, they’ll have another chance at a signature win. They can rest easy tonight, but tomorrow it’s back to work to continue their push toward the postseason.

Box Score

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

 

 

Ohio State hits the road in search of another statement victory, traveling to the Breslin Center on Sunday afternoon for a matchup with 15th-ranked Michigan State. Tip time is slated for 1:00 PM on CBS.

 

-Jason Harris

Photo Credit: The Ohio State Athletics (@OhioStateHoops on X.com)