Ohio State overcame an early six-point deficit by going on a 15-6 run to seize control and never trailed again, knocking off No. 8 Purdue 82-74 for Coach Jake Diebler’s third straight win over the Boilermakers in as many meetings. The Buckeyes improved to 18-11 overall and 10-9 in conference play, while Purdue fell to 22-7 and 12-6.

After taking a five-point lead into halftime, Ohio State opened the second half with a strong 12-3 run to build a 14-point advantage. Purdue later rallied with a 9-2 run to cut the deficit to seven, but the Buckeyes consistently answered every Boilermaker push and extended the lead to as many as 16, never allowing the visitors to fully close the gap in a win that could significantly strengthen Ohio State’s NCAA tournament resume if they can finish strong over their final two games.

Ohio State shot 51 percent from the floor and connected on 9-of-24 from three-point range while holding Purdue to 44 percent shooting and 11-of-29 from deep. The Buckeyes controlled the glass, outrebounding Purdue 36-29, and capitalized at the free-throw line, making 25-of-32 attempts compared to Purdue’s 7-of-10.

John Mobley led Ohio State with 21 points. Bruce Thornton added 20 points and 5 rebounds, and his 2 assists tied Kelvin Ransey for fourth all-time in assists at Ohio State. Amare Bynum contributed 14 points and 5 rebounds, while Devin Royal finished with 12 points and 9 rebounds, going 8-of-9 from the free-throw line. Purdue was led by Braden Smith with 20 points, while Trey Kauffman-Renn scored 19 points (17 coming in the second half). Foster Loyer added 15 points and C.J. Cox chipped in 13 in the loss.

 

1^st Half

Purdue scored the game’s first points before Devin Royal knocked down a pair of free throws to get Ohio State on the board. Royal then delivered a pass to Amare Bynum, who established deep position in the paint and finished off the window for two. The Boilermakers responded with a three-pointer, but the Buckeyes answered right away with a bucket inside from Christoph Tilly. Purdue connected on another three, and by the first media timeout held an 8-6 advantage.

A Boilermaker steal and finish stretched the lead, but Bruce Thornton responded with a three-pointer. Purdue answered with back-to-back triples before John Mobley drove into the lane and dished to Bynum for a dunk. Tilly went one-for-two at the line, and Mobley drilled a three to bring the Buckeyes within one, 16-15, at the under-12 media timeout.

The Buckeyes pulled even when Tilly split another pair at the line, but after coming up empty on two chances to take the lead, Purdue knocked down a three to snap Ohio State’s 7-0 run. Mobley answered right back with a triple to tie it again, and following a Purdue offensive foul that halted play, the under-8 media timeout arrived with the score knotted at 19.

Out of the timeout, Mobley knocked down a baseline jumper to put Ohio State back on top, and Bynum followed with a short jumper in the paint to stretch the lead. Purdue trimmed the seven-point Buckeye cushion with a jumper of its own, but Bynum countered with two free throws. Ivan Njegovan then grabbed an offensive rebound and powered in a putback dunk. The Boilermakers responded with a three, yet Mobley answered with one of his own, and at the under-4 media timeout, Ohio State held a 30-24 advantage.

Purdue opened the possession after the timeout with another three-pointer, but Thornton answered by attacking the lane and finishing off the glass. The Boilermakers connected from deep again, yet on the other end Bynum drew contact inside and calmly sank two free throws to maintain the cushion. The officials overlooked a pair of two-handed shoves by Purdue’s Fletcher Loyer, and the Boilers capitalized by drawing a foul and splitting the free throws. Thornton responded once more with a drive and layup off the window, and Ohio State called timeout with 17 seconds remaining in the half ahead 36-31. That margin held through the final seconds, sending the Buckeyes into the locker room with the lead at the break.

Ohio State shot an impressive 57 percent in the opening half, including 4-of-10 from beyond the arc, while limiting Purdue to 39 percent overall. The Boilermakers did much of their damage from deep, going 8-of-14 from three and managing just three made field goals inside the arc. The Buckeyes held a narrow 15-13 edge on the glass and controlled the paint, outscoring Purdue 14-6 inside.

John Mobley paced Ohio State with 11 first-half points, matched by 11 from Amare Bynum. Braden Smith led Purdue with 11 points of his own before the break.

 

2^nd Half

After a defensive stop to open the second half, Thornton found Royal deep in the paint for two points. The Buckeyes forced another stop and pushed the ball in transition, where Tilly was fouled and calmly knocked down both free throws to extend the lead. Purdue answered with a tough finish at the rim while drawing contact and converting the free throw to chip away at the deficit, but Mobley responded on the other end with a drive to the basket for two.

Following another defensive stop, Ohio State again pushed the pace in transition, and this time Mobley buried a three from the left wing. The basket forced Purdue to call a timeout with 17:59 remaining as Ohio State extended its lead to 45-34.

Bynum extended the Buckeye lead at the free-throw line, splitting a pair, and Royal followed by grabbing an offensive rebound, drawing a foul, and sinking both free throws. Purdue finally snapped Ohio State’s 8-0 run with a short jumper, but Taison Chatman quickly answered with a jumper of his own. A strong spin move and dunk by Purdue trimmed the deficit, and at the under-16 media timeout, Ohio State led 50-38.

Purdue trimmed the Buckeye lead to eight with back-to-back baskets, forcing an Ohio State timeout as the margin shrank to 50-42 with the Boilermakers on a 6-0 run. Out of the timeout, Mobley answered with a 15-foot jumper, but Purdue responded with an old-fashioned three-point play to keep fighting back. A pair of offensive rebounds by Njegovan kept the possession alive and set up a Thornton three-pointer. At the under-12 media timeout, Ohio State led 55-45.

Coming out of the timeout, Purdue went to the free-throw line and converted both shots, but Thornton quickly answered with a three from the right wing. After a Purdue basket trimmed the lead, Thornton responded again with a leaner in the paint. Chatman then came up with a steal and converted the turnover into points at the other end to extend the advantage, but Purdue answered with a shot off the glass. Mobley delivered a clutch three-pointer to push the lead back to 14, and at the under-8 media timeout, Ohio State led 65-51.

Royal went to the stripe out of the timeout and calmly buried two to give the Buckeyes their largest lead. Purdue responded with a 7-0 run and after Royal drew a foul, the under 4 media timeout was called with Ohio State leading 67-58.

At the line out of the timeout, Royal calmly knocked down both free throws to snap the Boilermaker run and push Ohio State’s lead back to 11. Purdue answered with a deep three-pointer, and then an offensive foul on the ensuing inbound gave the Boilermakers another possession, which they converted into a basket to cut the lead to six with 2:38remaining.

Ohio State responded with a corner three from Bynum off a touch pass from Chatman. After forcing a Purdue turnover, Royal followed by tipping in a missed Tilly shot for a dunk. Purdue scored on the other end after Tilly tried to save a rebound under the Buckeye basket, and the Boilermakers converted an easy layup before calling a timeout with 1:32remaining as Ohio State led 74-65.

Tilly went to the line with 55 seconds remaining and split a pair of free throws, and Purdue quickly answered with a three-pointer. Thornton was then fouled in the backcourt, sending Ohio State to the other end where he calmly knocked down both free throws to push the Buckeyes ahead by 10 with 43 seconds left.

Purdue responded with an old-fashioned three-point play — despite what appeared to be a missed tie-up by the officials — with 32 seconds remaining. Thornton was fouled again in the backcourt and once more went to the line, repeating his previous trip by hitting both free throws. Purdue missed a runner on the next possession, and Ohio State secured the rebound, where Thornton was fouled yet again. This time, he split the pair to help seal the upset.

Two late free throws from Chatman were followed by a Purdue three to close the scoring. As the final horn sounded, the fans rushed the floor as Ohio State secured a huge Quad 1 victory.

Game Wrap

Welcome to March. Desperate times called for desperate measures, and after the frustrating defeat at Iowa earlier in the week, Ohio State’s NCAA tournament hopes were hanging by the thinnest of margins. Facing No. 8 Purdue as a sizable underdog at home, the Buckeyes knew they needed a much stronger performance to pull off the upset.

From the opening tip, Ohio State attacked Purdue offensively, generating quality looks and capitalizing on them. Defensively, the Buckeyes played physical and stayed connected, forcing Purdue toward the perimeter. While the Boilermakers — the conference’s top three-point shooting team — stayed competitive early by knocking down shots from deep, Ohio State’s second-half defensive adjustments limited those opportunities and forced Purdue to work more inside. Purdue was more effective inside after halftime, but by then, the damage had already been done. Purdue was forced into difficult shots, and Ohio State consistently controlled the defensive glass, limiting the Boilermakers to just one shot on most possessions. The play of Christoph Tilly and Ivan Njegovan on the glass, combining for 11 rebounds helped Ohio State neutralize the big Purdue front line and was critical in getting the win. Combined with an efficient, well-balanced offensive attack and strong rotational defensive play, Ohio State dictated tempo and maintained control of the scoreboard. Purdue managed to close within six points but could get no closer as the Buckeyes closed out a major home victory. 

In the bigger picture, Ohio State now appears positioned on the right side of the NCAA tournament bubble. The Buckeyes will likely be favored in their final two games, but must avoid a letdown. If they can secure a road win at Penn State and finish with a victory at home on senior night against Indiana, Ohio State’s tournament drought should come to an end.

Box Score

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

 

Ohio State hits the road for the final time this season, traveling to State College to face Penn State on Wednesday night. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m., with the game airing on Peacock.

-Jason Harris